Raphael Lemkin was one of the most influential lawyers of the 20th century. Through his tireless efforts, he gave the world not only the concept of genocide, but also the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted by the United Nations on December 9, 1948. This was the first international human rights treaty established after the Second World War, and recognized genocide as a crime under international law.
Lemkin’s thinking was deeply shaped by pre-war Poland and its vibrant intellectual life. He drew inspiration from the Lwów School of Law, the multicultural traditions of the Polish Republic, and his personal encounters with two totalitarian regimes. These experiences informed his groundbreaking conception of genocide. His work stands as one of the most important legal and philosophical responses to the great tragedies of the 20th century.
