A/HRC/10/30 page 17 45. In my above-mentioned statement, I also observed that, despite these efforts, the world has continued to witness appalling acts that violate human dignity. Too often, the international response has been inadequate. Far from being consigned to history, genocide remains a serious threat. Not just vigilance but a will to act are as important today as ever. I therefore called on those States that have not already done so to accede to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948. I urged all States to implement the Convention and to support efforts to prevent genocide and other serious human rights violations that may degenerate into genocide. Preventing genocide is a collective and individual responsibility. We must do everything in our power to ensure that our children may live free from the fear of being killed because they belong to an ethnic, national, religious or racial group. 46. To this effect, the Special Adviser and his office continue to pursue a strategy of enhancing the Organization’s understanding of genocide and its precursors, of strengthening the ways in which existing international law can be used to prevent genocide and, above all, of monitoring and analysing ongoing situations of concern and advising me and Member States as needed. I recognize that, further and beyond the analysis of early-warning information gathered from the entire United Nations system, the crucial element in the prevention of genocide remains responding to concerns, once these have been communicated. Taking swift and decisive action was a key element of the Five-Point Action Plan to prevent genocide of 2004. 47. I intend to strengthen the response of the United Nations system, in particular the relevant departments, agencies and funds, by seeking more systematic, substantive, time-bound and accountable responses, as well as their direct involvement in designing those responses. As evident in the sections above (paras. 15 to 25) on the contributions of the United Nations system, most departments, agencies and funds have a significant role to play in the prevention of genocide, even though this role is often not tailor-made or described as “prevention of genocide” activities. I believe that the Security Council should also take very closely into account the communal concern raised by the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, especially when action is required to change an ongoing dynamic in a country situation so as to avert loss of life. 48. The imperative to prevent genocide is incumbent, first, upon Member States, and then upon the entire United Nations system. It is only through the collaborative effort of Member States and the United Nations as a whole, including the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, that the international community can be successful. I look forward to continued and strengthened collaboration with Member States, and in particular the Security Council. -----