Genocide and the Genocide Convention

Since 2022, DTP and the Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) have been working in partnership on capacity-building initiatives with refugee and migrant community leaders in NSW.  These leaders asked DTP and STARTTS to run a series of webinars to build knowledge and understanding of various human rights instruments and processes.

This series of three webinars focuses on genocide and the Genocide Convention.

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was the first international law instrument to define the crime of genocide. It represents a global pledge to prevent atrocities intended to “destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group”. The prohibition of genocide is jus cogens, a fundamental principle of international law that applies at all times and without exception. Yet genocide has continued.

This series built awareness and understanding of the Genocide Convention and the rights it recognises, contributing to conversations on contemporary situations including Palestine and Myanmar. Speakers traced the evolution of international law on genocide and shared the experiences of survivors, including Rohingya communities and Indigenous Peoples in Australia. They also examined early warning signs, prevention strategies and the role of advocacy in preventing atrocities.

• Webinar 1: Historical Context and International Law featuring Francesca Albanese and Chris Sidoti
• Webinar 2: Genocide Survivors’ Stories: Resilience, Recovery and Hope featuring Noor Azizah and Joshua Creamer
• Webinar 3: Genocide Prevention & Advocacy: Lessons from Recent Genocides featuring Lana Tatour, Debbie Stothard, and Jonathan Liljeblad

For more information, read the series' Concept Note.