UN body adopts Armenia-initiated Resolution on Prevention of Genocide

Armenia Now

29 March 2015

The United Nations Human Rights Council, which is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe, during its 28th session this week adopted by consensus the Armenia-initiated Resolution on the Prevention of Genocide.

According to the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 64 states introducing all the regional groups of the Human Rights Council joined Armenia and co-authored the resolution. The resolution will be open for the co-authoring for two more weeks.

The resolution passed on March 27 affirms that impunity for the crime of genocide and crimes against humanity encourages their recurrence and is a fundamental obstacle to the furtherance of cooperation among peoples and the promotion of international peace and security, and that fighting impunity for such crimes is an important tool in their prevention.

The resolution initiated by Armenia highlights that attempts to deny the crime of genocide and justify it undermines the fight against impunity, hinders genocide-prevention efforts.

It reiterates the importance of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism of the Human Rights Council and invites states to include information on the prevention of genocide and other crimes against humanity in their national reports.

The resolution calls upon the UN member-states to strengthen cooperation under relevant international instruments to prevent genocides and other massive, gross or systematic violations of human rights, in order to avoid their recurrence that could lead to genocide.

The document emphasizes the important role that education can play in genocide prevention, and further encourages governments to promote, as appropriate, educational programs and projects that contribute to the prevention of genocide.

The resolution invites states as preventative measure to establish national days of remembrance of victims of genocide, to ensure that such horrendous crimes are not forgotten and provide an opportunity for everyone to learn lessons from the past and create a safer future.

By the Resolution the Human Rights Council recommends that the General Assembly designate 9 December, the day when the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted, as the International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Genocide.

The Resolution also anticipates drawing up of international networks on the prevention of genocide.

It is noteworthy that such an important international Resolution is adopted by the initiative of Armenia on the eve of the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide.

Featured Image: UN body adopts Armenia-initiated Resolution on Prevention of Genocide. Copyright: mfa.am

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