ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the United Nations Genocide Convention’s drafting process, the means by which cultural genocide was excluded from the final text, how the “colonial clause” was added, and historical context to show how colonial powers were aggressively seeking the exclusion of cultural genocide. In 1946, Raphael Lemkin began in earnest his campaign to make genocide a crime under international law. The Economic and Social Council appointed the Ad hoc Committee on Genocide to continue drafting the convention. Lemkin believed the method of cultural genocide was the “most important part of the Convention.” Prior to working on the Secretariat Draft, Lemkin wrote in 1946, “Cultural considerations speak for international protection of national, religious and racial groups. Denmark, the Netherlands, France, and the US were vocal opponents of retaining cultural genocide during debate at the Sixth Committee. The Soviet Union forcefully argued in support of the inclusion of cultural genocide.
