Raphael Lemkin

Raphael Lemkin was a Polish lawyer and scholar who coined the term "genocide" in 1944. He dedicated his life to studying and combating mass atrocities, especially targeting cultural and ethnic groups. Lemkin's efforts led to the recognition of genocide as an international crime, culminating in the United Nations' 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. His work laid the foundation for legal frameworks that aim to prevent and punish mass violence, ensuring that atrocities like the Holocaust are acknowledged and addressed globally.