YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. The Prevention of genocide resolution initiated by Armenia has been adopted at the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council by consensus. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia informed “Armenpress” that 64 states joined Armenia and became co-authors of the resolution. They introduce all the regional groups of the UN Human Rights Council. The resolution will be open for the co-authorship for another two weeks.

The resolution adopted in Geneva on March 27 affirms that impunity for the crime of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity encourages their occurrence 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 factor in their prevention.

Among other things it condemns impunity for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and emphasizing the responsibility of States to comply with their obligations under relevant international instruments to end impunity and, to that end, to thoroughly investigate and prosecute persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or other massive, serious or systematic violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, in order to avoid their recurrence and to seek sustainable peace, justice, truth and reconciliation, and in this regard stressing also the importance of strengthening the capacity of domestic jurisdictions and inter-State cooperation.

The resolution stresses the importance of the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence to the prevention of genocide, and also stressing, that perpetrators of this crime should be held criminally accountable on the national or international level and acknowledges the work of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence and its positive impact on the prevention of gross violations of human rights and serious violations of international humanitarian law through a holistic approach to transitional justice.

It also condemns the intentional public denial or glorification of crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity as defined by international law, and notes with concern that public denials create a risk of further violations and undermine efforts to prevent genocide; and recognizes the important role of the Secretary-General in contributing to prompt consideration of cases of early warning or prevention, as mandated by the Security Council in its resolution 1366 (2001) of 30 August 2001, and the functions of the Special A/HRC/28/L.25 5 Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide who, in accordance with his mandate, collects existing information, in particular from within the United Nations system, liaises with the United Nations system on activities for the prevention of genocide and works to enhance the capacity of the United Nations to analyse and manage information relating to genocide or related crimes.

The aforesaid resolution recommends that the General Assembly designate 9 December as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of Genocide in order to raise awareness of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and its role in combating and preventing the crime of genocide.

It’s noteworthy that this significant resolution is adopted ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.