Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

I want to congratulate George William Okoth-Obbo for his appointment this week as the Special Adviser on The Responsibility to Protect and to wish him a successful tenure.

Today marks the 73^nd anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide- the world’s first modern human rights treaty.

The Convention - drafted with the assistance of three experts – Raphael Lemkin of Poland, Vespasian Pella of Romania and Henri Donnedieu de Vabres of France - recognises the responsibility of States and obliges them to take measures to prevent and punish the crime of genocide. So far, the Convention is not yet universally ratified. We therefore call today on those States that have not ratified it to do so.

At a time when the rules-based international order is facing increased pressure, and atrocity crimes continue to happen, standing up for the universal values of humanity and respect for human rights - on which the Convention is premised- is more important than ever.

Genocide, as a term coined by the lawyer from Poland, Raphael Lemkin, is not a one-off event, but in most cases a process with many detectable warning signs along the road. Prevention is key. And building a culture of prevention starts at an early age. That is why youth have a primordial role in building resilient societies, promoting tolerance, fighting exclusion and discrimination, tackling hate speech and disinformation, respecting diversity and protecting human rights and the rule of law.

We commend this year’s interactive dialogue with young people that contributes to intergenerational dialogue to build and sustain peace. We must switch from a security-based narrative, and see young people for who they are, potential drivers of peace, and not security threats. Remembrance, research and education are essential in this regard. We must invest more in education and awareness of past atrocities.

Young people are also at higher risk, because of the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination they face. In line with UNSCR 2535 (2019), we support the establishment of specific measures to tackle threats against young people, and ensure their protection and integration into our societies. Ensuring full access to justice, accountability, and to essential services, is a priority in this context. In line with the Youth, Peace and Security agenda, we fully support the recommendation to mainstream and integrate the participation of youth, including young women, across all activities. European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen has announced 2022 as the European Year for Youth. Through a series of activities and special initiatives, we will place young people at the centre of all actions.

Chair,

As the preamble of the Genocide Convention recognizes, ‘at all periods of history genocide has inflicted great losses on humanity’. We have to prevent that from happening, and when it occurs, we need to bring perpetrators to justice. National authorities have the primary responsibility to prevent, investigate and prosecute international crimes. International courts, such as the ICC, step in when States are unwilling or unable to carry out such proceedings.

Preventing genocide and supporting the Responsibility to Protect is an integral part of the EU's foreign and security policy.  With the adoption of a global human rights sanctions regime last year, the EU was able to target individuals, entities and bodies responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide, such as genocide and crimes against humanity, no matter where they occurred.

Thank you.