Within the framework of the 20th UN Human Rights Council session held in Geneva, Switzerland, and event was organized on June 19 to study the Council’s important role in the use of the principle of the responsibility to protect. 

During the discussions Armenia’s delegation made a statement, whereby it underscored this principle in the human security system. 

It noted that the Armenian people survived the 20th century’s first genocide, which claimed the lives of 1.5 million Armenians, and this is why Armenia salutes any effort toward preventing crimes against humanity. And as a positive example for such effort, the Armenian delegation pointed to the Armenian Genocide’s recognition by dozens of countries, which is as a result of cooperation between Armenia and the Armenian diaspora.   

Also, the delegation noted that massacring of 1.5 million Armenians is a failure of a state’s principle to protect its own population while the surviving of 2.5 million Armenians and the existence of Armenia, Armenian diaspora, and Armenian people are a success of the international community’s commitment to protect.    

An on June 20, a working discussion was held devoted to the memory of Raphael Lemkin, who had coined the word “genocide.” 

Armenia’s delegation made a statement during these discussions, too, and pointed to Lemkin’s invaluable role in genocide prevention. 

Also, Lemkin’s following words were recalled: “We forget too quickly. Yesterday, the victims were ‘only’ Armenians; today, ‘only’ the Jews—but also Poles and other European peoples. And who will be tomorrow?”

Armenia’s delegation noted that the country’s president bestows awards to those who have contributed to genocide prevention, and the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute allocates scholarships for Armenian Genocide studies.  

In response, the Turkish delegation voiced its approach which, however, was accepted negatively by those present, who assessed it as a response to Raphael Lemkin, and not to the Armenian delegation.