Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisyan, Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva, delivered a joint statement on the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide at the 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday. The full statement is provided below.
The United States Joined the Following Joint Statement at the 53rd Session of the Human Rights Council
Interactive Dialogue with the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide
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Joint Statement on the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
As delivered by Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisyan
Permanent Representative of Armenia
Thank you, Mr. President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of 40 States.
We welcome Special Adviser Nderitu and reiterate our support to the Office of the Special Advisors of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide and on the Responsibility to Protect.
This year marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Together with the UDHR, it outlines a vision of a world where genocide and other mass atrocities are prevented and punished.
Genocide never happens suddenly. It is typically preceded by discriminatory practices against a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, and patterns of human rights violations and abuses.
We emphasize the role of the UN human rights system, including this Council, the OHCHR, and special procedures, and treaty bodies to collate information on violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law that may lead to genocide.
Drawing the world’s attention to situations at risk of atrocity crimes requires follow-up actions and coordinated efforts in order truly to make prevention work.
I thank you.
