Raphael Lemkin was a lawyer from Poland who created the word "genocide." He worked hard to make the world recognize it as a serious crime. In 1948, he gave an important speech to support a new law called the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Here are the main points Lemkin likely talked about in his 1948 speech:
Defines genocide: Lemkin explained that "genocide" means trying to destroy a group of people. This can happen by killing them, hurting them, or making life so bad they can't survive.
History of genocide: Lemkin talked about times in history when genocide happened, like the Armenian Genocide during World War I and the Holocaust in World War II, when the Nazis killed millions of Jews, including Lemkin’s own family.
Need for laws: Lemkin said that we need international laws to stop genocide and punish those who commit it. He believed genocide could happen anytime, not just during wars, so it needed special laws.
Moral duty: He stressed that it is the world's moral duty to act against genocide. Lemkin wanted to protect people and make sure everyone’s human rights are respected.
UN Genocide Convention: Lemkin talked about the importance of the UN Genocide Convention, which defined genocide and made it an international crime. Countries that signed this convention agreed to prevent and punish genocide.
Lemkin’s speeches, including the one in 1948, helped lead to the adoption of the Genocide Convention. His work was crucial in creating modern international human rights laws and ensuring that the world works together to stop genocide.
Click below to read the 1948 speech by Raphael Lemkin in response to the UN adoption of the Genocide Convention.
