On the UN Genocide Remembrance Day

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Abstract

Seventy-three years ago, the United Nations (2020) approved its first human-rights treaty – also known as the Genocide convention, because it mainly concerns the crime of genocide. The 9th of December, the day of its original approval, has been celebrated since 2015 as ‘the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime’. Remembering crimes and honouring victims is indeed crucial to prevent new instances of genocide. This is why SADF has repeatedly (Casaca, 2018) analysed the Bangladesh 1971 Genocide perpetrated by Pakistani armed forces (in cooperation with local Islamist fanatics). SADF accompanied the determined and praiseworthy efforts by the Bangladeshi authorities and the civil society (South Asian Democratic Forum, 2015) to bring those responsible for the 1971 occurrences to justice. Such efforts included the reestablishment of the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh – a move strongly resisted by powerful revisionist lobbies, some of which despicably covered their actions under claims of ‘human rights’ principles and actions. […]