UN Human Rights Council passes genocide prevention resolution by Armenia
The UN Human Rights Council adopted Armenia's resolution on the "Prevention of Genocide" by consensus at its 55th session on Wednesday.
The biennial resolution, based on the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, calls attention to the risks of repeating this crime and the necessity to prevent them, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reports.
This year's resolution includes key provisions addressing current challenges, particularly on early warning and risks related to genocides. It highlights the use of armed conflicts to commit genocide and the prohibition of starving civilian populations as prohibited means of warfare.
Impunity is identified as a significant risk factor for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, emphasizing the importance of investigation, prosecution and punishment. The resolution highlights the role of the International Court of Justice in preventing and punishing the crime of genocide.
The resolution also calls for a panel discussion on early warning at the 58th session of the IHL, with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights asked to encourage broad participation from member states, civil society and other stakeholders.
Armenia's initiative is seen as a significant contribution to strengthening the international agenda for genocide prevention, proposing rights-centered approaches to modern challenges and finding institutional solutions to intersecting problems in international human rights law and international humanitarian law.