ArmInfo. The UN Office in Yerevan hosted an event dedicated to the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.
As reported to ArmInfo by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan also took part in the event, who recalled in his speech that on December 9, 1948, the General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which clearly confirmed the obligation of the international communities never allow a repeat of this crime.
According to Mnatsakanyan, Armenia is determined to contribute to the joint efforts of the international community to develop measures to prevent genocides in the future. In this regard, he recalled that Yerevan is a pioneer in the international arena in the fight against genocide, and has consistently worked and is working within the UN with its many partners on the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, on raising awareness about the dangers and challenges associated with hate crimes, as well as building legal and institutional capacity. According to him, it was Armenia that initiated in 2015 a resolution, which proclaimed December 9 as International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. He recalled that the document was adopted at the 103rd plenary meeting of the 69th session by consensus, approved by 80 member countries of the General Assembly. "Today, in the context of growing extremism and a declining international commitment to respecting human rights, education is critical to effectively tackling this and other serious problems facing humanity. The prevention of genocides is also crucial. In this regard, education must be the driving force that unites and directs societies and states in political, diplomatic, socio-economic and cultural efforts to prevent crimes against humanity, " the Armenian minister said, adding that Armenia has consistently stated the importance and priority of early prevention of genocides.
According to Mnatsakanyan, Armenia is fully determined to contribute to the joint efforts of the international community to develop measures to prevent genocides in the future.
Mnatsakanyan emphasized that early prevention means early action, the focus of which is awareness. The Armenian minister expressed his conviction that prevention begins at the national level.
At the same time, he stated that denial and impunity are the main obstacles to prevention. "Rejected justice persecutes generations of survivors of genocide and hinders genuine reconciliation. Combating denial has always been and remains one of our top priorities. As a nation that has survived genocide, we also recognize our commitment to advance the agenda" never again. "In this context, the process of recognizing the Armenian Genocide is not only a direct step towards the recognition of our justice, but also a step towards the prevention of genocides, as this is the premise that impunity will not work. It is needed not so much for history or historians as for humanity today and especially for potential victims of identity-based violence, It is needed for overcoming the perception of genocide and the universal protection of human rights. This is an ongoing process, and we will continue to work in this direction, "the Armenian Foreign Minister assured, recalling the Global Genocide Forums held by Armenia since 2015. In this regard, he noted that in 2020 it is planned to hold the fourth Global Forum on Combating Genocide.
Mnatsakanyan noted that one of the most important goals of such forums is to study the prevention of genocide through education and science, to raise awareness of the problems of education in the field of genocide and to discuss steps and effective methods for solving them. "We all have one important obligation - the obligation to remember. And therefore it is important that the obligation to remember is reflected in various materials on history - in textbooks, articles and scientific papers. Memorial days of genocidal events - the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, as well as genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda and Darfur should be mourning days not only for generations of victims, but also for generations of criminals, since these days should lead humanity to recognition and reconciliation, "summarized Mnatsakanyan.