First observance of the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime

On 11 September 2015, the General Assembly adopted unanimously resolution 69/323 in which it proclaimed 9 December as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. The resolution encouraged all Member and observer States, all organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations and individuals to observe the International Day 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, as well as to commemorate and honor its victims. The 9 December also marks the day the Genocide Convention was adopted in 1948.

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With the participation of: Mogens Lykketoft, President of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly; Jan Elliason, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations; Adama Dieng, Special Adviser of the Secretary General on the Prevention of Genocide; Pablo de Greiff, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence and other experts.

On 11 September 2015, the General Assembly adopted unanimously resolution 69/323 in which it proclaimed 9 December as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. The resolution encouraged all Member and observer States, all organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations and individuals to observe the International Day 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, as well as to commemorate and honor its victims. The 9 December also marks the day the Genocide Convention was adopted in 1948.

Event organized by the Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect.

VIDEO OF THE WHOLE PROGRAM: (1:30:00 duration)

http://webtv.un.org/search/first-observance-of-the-international-day-of-commemoration-and-dignity-of-the-victims-of-the-crime-of-genocide-and-of-the-prevention-of-this-crime/4655412671001?term=Armenia#full-text

Ambassador Mnatsakanyan’s talk is between minutes 20:00-27:36