In the Federal Judiciary Institute of Mexico, Inauguration Ceremony of the Third International Judicial Forum New Proposals for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide

In the Federal Judiciary Institute of Mexico

INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL JUDICIAL FORUM NEW PROPOSALS FOR THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF THE CRIME OF GENOCIDE

This February 20, 2015, at the Federal Judiciary Institute of Mexico, the Third International Judicial Forum “New Proposals for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide”, was opened; fulfilling the objective of the Justice for Peace project, which is carried out by the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace.

The Inauguration Ceremony was directed by the Global Ambassador and Activists for Peace, Dr. William Soto Santiago, and Judge Julio Cesar Vazquez-Mellado, General Director of the Federal Judiciary Institute. Maria Jaqueline Martinez Uriarte, General Director of DDHH, Gender equality and international affairs of the General Judicial Council of Mexico; Gabriela Lara Santa Cruz from Bolivia, General Director of the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace; and Francisco Javier Guerra Gonzalez, Coordinator of the GEAP in Mexico, were present during the ceremony.

Representing the Federal Judiciary Institute of Mexico, Judge Julio Cesar Vazquez-Mellado commenced the act, and in his intervention he conceptualized the term “Genocide”, and at the same time gave a brief summary on the criminalization of said crime. He also emphasized some of the most atrocious genocides of the 21^st century, and expressed that it is time to put a stop to it, during these times and in every region of the earth so that something as embarrassing as genocide disappears:

“In first place, education. Promoting respect for differences, human rights and dignity to fight against different forms of hate and discrimination, and to understand that hate and discrimination goes against human nature.”

Judge Vazquez Mellado finished giving the opening during the Third International Judicial Forum at the Federal Judiciary Institute of Mexico:

“… a group working together, is insisting on the need to eradicate those aspects of hate and discrimination forever, which are not reasonably acceptable to humans or to the dignity of the human being.”

The Global Ambassador of Peace, Dr. William Soto, formalized the opening of the Third International Judicial Forum, recalling the forums that have taken place in Colombia and Argentina, and that will also take place in Chile, Costa Rica, Norway, United States of America, Germany, Poland and Israel. He stressed on the importance of the continuous participation of experts and the general public during these events.

"Your contribution, honorable magistrates and ministers of the high courts and jurists, academics and students with us today, will be final for decanting and refining the new proposals for the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide."

(See conclusions: 1st Judicial Forum developed in Colombia and 2nd Forum in Argentina)

He stated the objectives of these activities, which form part of the Justice for Peace Project, "The International Judicial Forums New Proposals for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide are part of the Justice for Peace project which aims to generate constructive critical thinking about compassion and the criminalization of the international crime of genocide, and the appropriateness of assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of international instruments to prevent and punish while proposing a revision and amendment." Dr. Soto noted that in these forums we will also reflect on the interest of the crime of Ecocide, democratization of the UN, and strengthening the International Criminal Court, among other topics.

The opening ceremony ended with the following words of the Global Ambassador Dr. William Soto:

"With my infinite gratitude towards the Federal Judiciary, with lawyers, students, peace activists from Mexico, and other countries for responding to this call, I formally declare open the Third International Judicial Forum "New Proposals for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide”.