9 December: International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime
International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime was observed globally on 9 December 2015.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 11 September 2015 adopted the resolutions proclaiming 9 December as International Day of Commemoration & Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.
The resolution was initiated by Armenia and was intended to commemorate and honour the victims of the crime of genocide around the world and to raise awareness of the Convention and its role in protecting populations from future genocides.
The resolution was adopted without a vote in the 193-member Assembly and it reiterates the responsibility of each individual State to protect its populations from genocide through appropriate and necessary means.
Background
UNGA decided to proclaim 9 December as International Genocide Commemoration Day because the day marks anniversary of the signing of the 1948 Genocide Convention. This convention was one of the first United Nations conventions to address humanitarian issues.
It was adopted in response to the atrocities which were committed during the World War II. Through GA Res. 180(II), UN recognised that genocide is an international crime, which entails the national and international responsibility of individual persons and states.
The Convention has since then been widely accepted by the international community and ratified by the overwhelmingly majority of States.
Genocide
UN defines genocide as a crime that is committed against members of a national, ethnic or religious group solely because they are members of that group. It also entails there being intent to exterminate a particular group.
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