International Day for the Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and for the Prevention of that Crime
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genocide is an abomination and a heinous crime, all states have a solemn obligation to prevent and punish it. That was the commitment the world made when it adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in 1948, with the promise that no group would be eliminated because of its nationality, ethnicity, race or religion.
Our promise was “never again,” but that promise is at risk in too many places. Violent conflicts, lack of accountability, and digital technologies that amplify hate and misinformation reignite the risk of genocide.
States have the primary obligation to prevent and punish genocide, and I call on governments that have not yet done so to adhere to the Convention; I also urge all governments to fully implement it and hold perpetrators accountable.
Prevention, however, is a collective task. It involves educating new generations about the roots of genocide – hate speech, inequality and misinformation – and acting on early signs. Community leaders, civil society and the media, including social media, have a moral duty to act.
As we show our unity in the face of this heinous crime, we honor its victims and survivors, and defend the most basic promise of the international community: the right of all people to live in security, dignity and peace.
* UN Secretary General
