Initiative on the UN Genocide Convention

A Call to create an Independent Committee to review the Genocide Convention

"A World Free from Genocide"

Address of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Janez Janza
at the 67th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations



Mr. President, excellencies, distinguished delegates,

At the outset let me congratulate H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremič, President of the current Session of the General Assembly, on his election and wish him success in discharging his duties.

It is my honour to pay tribute to the Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, for his able leadership and tireless efforts in guiding the United Nations in these demanding times.

This year?s topic of the UN Convention is peaceful prevention of disputes. We had the opportunity to listen to the distinguished speakers at the official opening, stressing the importance of violence prevention and the responsibility of all member states, their leaders and international organisations to take any action they can in order to prevent and raise awareness of such horrible events.

Mr President, distinguished delegates,
From among the other issues of global concern I would like to draw your attention to the horrific scenes in Syria. A civil war has been dragging on for many months. The mediation activities unfortunately failed. It shocks our conscious that we have been unable to stop bloodshed. Sadly we have not succeeded to protect civilians.

In my view, the situation is critical. It speaks for the urgent need to consider strengthening the preventive capacities of the UN, its member states and regional organisations. Concerted efforts to avert mass atrocities are needed.

Last year we celebrated the 60th anniversary of entering into force of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The Convention was a result of tireless efforts of Mr Raphael Lemkin, a Polish lawyer. He stalked the halls of the UN every day until December 1948, when the General Assembly finally adopted the Convention. He continued afterwards and his endeavours paid off in 1951, when the Convention came into force.

We have then waited half a century to see a first conviction of an individual for the crime of genocide. Establishment of the criminal tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda in the 90s followed by the historic creation of the permanent International Criminal Court. This was another milestone in the humanisation of the international relations.

It has also been encouraging that the UN system has improved its internal coordination of activities related to the prevention of genocide. The offices of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and of the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect were established. The Human Rights Council helped to promote the culture of prevention.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen,
Over the past months the Syrian tragedy has increased the awareness of our responsibility to prevent and stop mass atrocities. The US President Mr Obama established a promising Atrocities Prevention Board. In his Remarks at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum last April he made a point that ?national sovereignty never is a license to slaughter your people?. I hope we all share his belief that ?preventing genocide is an achievable goal?. The UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-mood urged in his speech at the opening of this session that we should ?give the Responsibility to protect concept a tangible meaning?. 

To my regret, however, we have not yet achieved a common understanding on the modalities of such actions. We should therefore strengthen and focus our dialogue to this end. There is a room for improving the modes of collaboration between the national, the regional and the international levels.

Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to remind you that only after the World War 2nd more than 80 countries witnessed mass atrocities. At least 53 million innocent lives were lost. Behind these numbers there were concrete men and women and also children. They had future but were not allowed to live. Behind these numbers there are still traumatised families and distorted creative potential of the affected societies. Bearing this in mind, we should be able to set at least basic limits to the human behaviour and stop mass atrocities.

I therefore urge the Member States of the United Nations, regional and sub-regional organisations and the UN system to develop a new strategy to prevent genocide and other mass atrocities.

Moreover, an intergovernmental forum of like-minded countries should be formed to propose a UN Resolution that would set a clear mandate  for preparation and adoption of an appropriate legal mechanism to improve the prevention of the crime.
Moreover, an intergovernmental forum of like-minded countries should be formed to propose a UN Resolution that would set a clear mandate for preparation and adoption of an appropriate legal mechanism. A legal mechanism  that would arm the Responsibility to protect concept with new tools. A legal mechanism that will enforce the prevention of the crime. A mechanism is needed to enable a more rapid and effective response to acts of genocide and other mass atrocities.

Slovenia stands ready to start a dialogue to this end. We are going to convene the first meeting in the following months. I am glad that we have got substantial support for this initiative already during this General Assembly?s session.

Let me inform you that this initiative originates from the international civil society. The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin has collected many thousands of supporters among international NGOs organisations, lawyers, students, journalists and other individuals. The support is on the increase. And this is not just one lonely initiative. There are many others across the globe.

Mr President, excellencies,
We should, of course, also enhance our collaboration concerning prosecution of alleged perpetrators of genocide and mass atrocities by individual States. Effective prosecution undoubtedly has deterrent effect and contributes substantially towards the culture of prevention. 

Moreover, a genuine culture of prevention needs to be developed globally. We should improve our understanding of the warning signs and triggering early action. These days we witness numerous acts of violence against diplomatic and consular missions in the Arab world. I strongly condemn such violent acts. They can never be justified. Freedom of speech is fundamental in democracy and violent response has never been able to set its limits. Only strengthening the intercultural dialogue would diminish the conflict potential. Only mutual respect can contribute to maintaining peace and security.

Mr President,
It was in 1946 when Raphael Lemkin asserted: ?Our whole heritage is a product of the contributions of all nations.? Each and every nation as well as the United Nations as a whole has an enormous responsibility and also opportunity to prevent future atrocities. We cannot escape our history but let us learn from it.

I fully believe we do not want the mistakes of yesterday to be repeated tomorrow. We took over the responsibility for the world from our fathers and have enormous responsibility to make it a better place for our children. I therefore invite you to do so by joining all our efforts for the world free from genocide.

Thank You.