International Law in the Age of Genocide
While Lemkin was able to convince diplomats at the United Nations to pass the Genocide Convention, his work was not complete upon his death. The job of lobbying governments across the world to ratify the convention was left to ordinary people.
![A photograph of several delegates who signed the UN Genocide Convention Credit: US Holocaust Memorial Museum, gift of United Nations](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-09/Lemkin_Ratification_Of_Genocide_Convention_FH131485.jpg?h=6db1c67f&itok=hEICVT3F)
France, Great Britain, and Russia Joint Declaration, 1915
In 1915, France, Great Britain, and Russia, issued a declaration condemning the ongoing Armenian genocide carried out in the Ottoman Empire and threatening to hold the perpetrators accountable.
![A photograph of several delegates who signed the UN Genocide Convention Credit: US Holocaust Memorial Museum, gift of United Nations](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-09/Lemkin_Ratification_Of_Genocide_Convention_FH131485.jpg?h=6db1c67f&itok=hEICVT3F)
Excerpt from Axis Rule in Occupied Europe by Raphael Lemkin
This reading contains an excerpt from Axis Rule in Occupied Europe by Raphael Lemkin, where he coins the term genocide.
![A photograph of several delegates who signed the UN Genocide Convention Credit: US Holocaust Memorial Museum, gift of United Nations](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-09/Lemkin_Ratification_Of_Genocide_Convention_FH131485.jpg?h=6db1c67f&itok=hEICVT3F)
“Sovereignty cannot be conceived as the right to kill millions”
Raphael Lemkin was outraged when he heard that the mass murder of the Armenians went unpunished. He was haunted by the case of Soghomon Tehlirian—an Armenian survivor of the genocide who killed Mehmed Talaat, minister of the interior of the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey).
![A photograph of several delegates who signed the UN Genocide Convention Credit: US Holocaust Memorial Museum, gift of United Nations](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-09/Lemkin_Ratification_Of_Genocide_Convention_FH131485.jpg?h=6db1c67f&itok=hEICVT3F)
Empires before World War I
Map showing empires in existence pre-WWI in 1914
In 1914, much of the world was dominated by a handful of empires. When fighting broke out that year, the global reach of warring empires ensured a World War. See full-sized image for analysis.
![Map showing empires in existence pre-WWI in 1914.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-05/Map_31_Empires_pre_WWI_1914.jpg?h=38e4958f&itok=YYGlpfQy)
Los Imperios Antes de la Primera Guerra Mundial
En 1914, la mayor parte del mundo estaba dominada por unos cuantos imperios. Ese año, cuando la guerra estalló, el alcance mundial de los imperios en conflicto garantizó una guerra mundial.
![Map showing empires in existence pre-WWI in 1914.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-05/Map_31_Empires_pre_WWI_1914.jpg?h=38e4958f&itok=YYGlpfQy)
Rohingya Refugees
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees have fled persecution in Myanmar since 2017, often traveling to neighboring Bangladesh.
![Members of Myanmar's Rohingya ethnic minority walk through rice fields after crossing the border into Bangladesh near Cox's Bazar's Teknaf area, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-07/2017_RohingyaRefugees_FH261963.jpg?h=c9f93661&itok=nEhl1UhO)
Becoming American: The Chinese Experience Part One - Gold Mountain Dreams
Login Required
The first of a 3-part series explores the early years of Chinese immigration to the U.S.
![](/sites/default/files/brightcove/videos/images/posters/image_1288.jpg)
Territorial Changes of the Ottoman Empire 1817 - 1913
View a series of maps highlighting changes to the Ottoman Empire in green.
![Map of the Ottoman Empire Territory in 1817](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-07/Territorial_changes_of_the_Ottoman_Empire_1817_800x600.jpeg?h=ccb565a9&itok=AN0JbOzo)
Birthright Citizenship Worldwide (2015)
World map highlighting in green which countries recognize birthright citizenship.
![World map highlighting in green which countries recognize birthright citizenship.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-08/Map_21_World_Birthright_Citizenship_teaser.jpeg?h=1017c59c&itok=kKe6Lhko)