International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide
December 9 · Level 5 · #1207 of 2238
This is a day to remember the victims of genocide, honour their dignity and think about how to stop it from happening again. The UN General Assembly established it in 2015, and the date points to the Genocide Convention, adopted on 9 December 1948.
How it is celebrated: people observe moments of silence and attend memorial ceremonies, and museums and schools run exhibitions and lessons. The UN and civil society groups hold discussions on spotting early warning signs and holding perpetrators to account.
The word genocide was coined in 1944 by the Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin, and the convention was adopted one day before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.