On 10 February 2021, Ewelina U. Ochab, the co-founder of the Coalition for Genocide Response, joined the UN Intersessional Meeting on the Prevention of Genocide. The session is aimed at accommodating a dialogue and cooperation in strengthening capacities for the prevention of genocide with a view to sharing good practices, achievements, challenges and lessons learned in three main areas: (i) the strengthening of national capacities; (ii) the promotion of States’ participation in regional and sub-regional initiatives; and (iii) the strengthening of early warning and prevention mechanisms within the United Nations system.
We must bridge the gap between the duties under the Genocide Convention and their realisation. This bridge includes states introducing comprehensive monitoring and assessment mechanisms. This also includes states taking ownership over their genocide determinations and using such a determination to inform their responses. In a world where genocide still occurs, despite the promises of Never Again, inaction is not an option. We need to ensure that we are equipped to prevent genocide as the cost of allowing it is too great: it is the cost of lives and it is also the cost of our humanity.
Ewelina U. Ochab, co-founder of the Coalition for Genocide Response
Read the statement here or watch on UN TV.
Read the full written statement here:
