UN General Assembly
1953

93. The encouraging response of non-member States, is evidence of the importance of the Convention on Genocide. We regard the accession of South Korea, and Italy as particularly significant. The courageous people of South Korea, men, women and children, suffered heavily from the acts of genocide committed against them during the North Korean occupation; the Government of South Korea acted with prophetic insight when it appealed in 1950 to all governments to ratify the Convention. We also attach great importance to Italy’s accession to the Conventions for we cannot forget that Rome is the cradle of international law. Nevertheless, only half the Member States of the , United Nations have ratified the Convention; it is for that reason that the Economic and Social Council appeals to States that have not ratified the Convention to do so.