The United Nations has marked the International Day Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of This Crime, often referred to as Genocide Prevention Day, since 2015.
On this day, we remember the victims of genocide. Worldwide, people are encouraged to learn from the past, and take action to prevent future atrocities.
It was on this date that the UN adopted the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Following the horrors of the Holocaust, the convention outlines the international community’s commitment to “never again” (let it happen) and defined genocide, a term coined by Raphael Lemkin, a Polish lawyer.
One day later – on 10 December 1948 – the first human rights treaty was adopted by the UN General Assembly after the atrocities committed during the Second World War.
The convention describes genocide as a crime committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in whole or in part.
Namibia is the country on whose soil the first genocide of the 20th century took place.
Importantly, our country has been a party to the UN’s Convention of 1948 for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the ‘Genocide Convention’) since 8 November 1994, the first human rights treaty the UN General Assembly adopted.
The Ovaherero and Nama genocide was a campaign of ethnic extermination and collective punishment waged by the German Empire’s Schutztruppe in then Deutsch Südwestafrika, now Namibia.
The purpose was to conquer and plunder. Between 80 000 Ovaherero and 10 000 Namas were massacred during the 1904-1908 German genocide.
In addition, thousands of men, women and children died in German concentration camps between 1905 and April 1908.
The Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda, is organised annually by the African Union (AU) following a decision to recognise 7 April as a day of remembrance for genocide victims.
It also a time for reaffirmation by Africans to resolve to prevent and fight genocide.
This decision was adopted by the AU Permanent Representatives Committee during its special session on the Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda.
The Rwanda genocide took place between 7 April and 15 July 1994 during the Rwanda civil war.
An estimated 800 000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were massacred.
Genocide and related atrocities tend to occur in societies with diverse national, racial, ethnic and religious groups that are locked in identity-related conflicts.
It is not simply differences in identity – whether real or perceived – that generate conflict.
It is the implication of these differences in terms of access to power and wealth, services and resources, employment, development opportunities, citizenship and enjoying fundamental rights and freedoms.
These conflicts are fomented by discrimination, hate speech inciting violence, and other human rights violations.
Essentially, there are three major points to the Genocide Convention – to suppress, prevent and punish genocide.
It is thus appropriate that Namibia takes a leaf out of the UN book to commemorate this day in honour of the thousands who perished during the 1904-1908 German genocide.
It is an opportunity to continuously awaken greater awareness about the value of life and humanity, and to renew our collective commitment to protecting fundamental human rights.
It is also an opportunity to unite against any form of genocide, genocide-related ideology, as well as genocide denial, to emphasise the demand for restorative justice and reparations.
