YEREVAN (Armenrpess) — A street was renamed for Raphael Lemkin on December 11.
Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Sergey Harutunyan said that Lemkin left considerable legacy in the world history. Lemkin coined the term “genocide.” Being a lawyer, he seriously studied the Armenian Genocide issue, and lobbied it in the international arena.
The term “genocide” got an international legal status after the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted in December, 1948.
“He devoted his life to the struggle, and achieved victory. The name of Raphael Lemkin is immortal,” Harutyunyan said.
Adama Dieng, the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, noted Lemkin’s important role in the development of the Convention. He also thanked the municipality of Yerevan for the decision to rename the street.
