UN Secretary-General message for the International Day of Commemoration & Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide & the Prevention of this Crime

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.