5th Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide: ‘Tools of prevention must be strengthened’– UN chief

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The 5th Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide is underway in Yerevan, Armenia. 

Opening remarks were delivered by President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and others. 

A statement by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was also read at the event. 

The statement, originally released on Monday on the occasion of International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime, was read by UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Françoise Jacob at the forum. 

In the statement, Guterres stressed that the tools of prevention, including education and countering mis- and disinformation that can fuel hate speech and genocidal intent and action, must be strengthened.

“Today marks the 76th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Adopted in the wake of the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust, the Convention is a pledge to the victims and survivors of genocide to ensure that these atrocities never occur again. Tragically, in a world plagued by division, mistrust and violence, the dark spectre of genocide is still with us. In the name of the victims and survivors of genocide, all governments must ratify and fully implement the Convention, holding perpetrators to account.  We must strengthen the tools of prevention, including education and countering mis- and disinformation that can fuel hate speech and genocidal intent and action. We must respect and implement decisions of the International Court of Justice on the application of the Convention. And we must do everything possible to identify early warning signs and sound the alarm. The best way to honour the victims and survivors of genocide is to ramp up action to prevent this atrocious crime,” Guterres said in the statement.