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

Established by the UN in 2015, this day marks the anniversary of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention), which was the UN’s first human rights treaty, and signifies commitment to ensure the prevention of this ‘crime of crimes’. The UN encourages all its Member and observer States, organisations, other international and regional organisations and civil society, including NGOs and individuals, to observe this day in order to raise awareness of the Genocide Convention and its role in combating and preventing the crime of genocide as defined in the Convention and to commemorate and honour the victims of genocide.