Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has marked the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with a message emphasizing that all efforts are directed toward turning the slogan “never again” into a reality.
The statement highlights that Armenia remembers the past and looks to the future, striving to build an environment for future generations that is free from discrimination and violence, and grounded in tolerance, respect, human rights, and peace.
“Today, on the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we pay tribute and commemorate the 1.5 million Armenians martyred as a result of genocide. In the final years of the Ottoman Empire, a significant part of the Armenian population—including children, women, and the elderly—was exterminated based on ethnic identity. Their property was confiscated, and a vast part of their centuries-old cultural and historical heritage was destroyed,” the message reads.
It notes that the recognition of the need to prevent crimes like the Armenian Genocide led to the legal definition of genocide, enshrined in the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
“Unfortunately, the Armenian Genocide was not the last atrocity committed against humanity in the 20th century. In the 21st century, we continue to witness mass crimes driven by hatred, racism, and ethnic intolerance,” the ministry stated.
Armenia remains actively involved in initiatives aimed at identifying early signs of such crimes, ensuring rapid responses, preventing their occurrence, and working toward their eradication.
In 2015, Armenia succeeded in establishing December 9 as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime within the United Nations calendar.
Continuing its commitment, in April 2024, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a new resolution introduced by Armenia on “genocide prevention” during its 55th session. “All these efforts are aimed at making ‘never again’ more than a slogan,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concluded.
