Genocide is an odious international crime that has no place in a civilised world. On this day, we must look back at the darkest days of history to never make the same mistakes.

Today, as the world is confronted by renewed violence and atrocities, we must redouble our efforts and actions.

Over the past years, we have established tools and policies to identify and address early warning signs. Exacerbated nationalism, hate speech, xenophobia, racial and ethnic profiling must be fought with the strongest determination.  

But these challenges can only be addressed if we all put our efforts together.

The UN Security Council must live up to its responsibility to act. It is crucial that all permanent UN Security Council members collectively agree to refrain from using the veto in case of mass atrocities.

We will continue to protect the rights of victims to justice and reparation. We will continue to support the International Criminal Court, as well as the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, and the UN’s accountability mechanisms.

Today, as we commemorate the victims of genocide, we pledge to never forget the atrocities of the past.

We will keep working towards protecting people across the world from atrocity crimes and to strive to end impunity. Genocide and other crimes under international law must not go unpunished.

We have a moral obligation towards humanity. We owe to the victims and their memories, but also to the present and future generations.

Victims deserve justice.

Background

The EU promotes the Responsibility to Protect and prioritises the prevention of conflict and atrocities through tools such as conflict analysis, early warning and action, dialogue and mediation. As a global actor, the EU partners with national and international actors, including civil society, to support peace and prosperity around the world. The EU Toolkit for Atrocity Prevention is an important element of this work, as are our Global human rights sanctions regime, our Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy, our EU Framework on Transitional Justice and our Strategy on combating antisemitism.