The Genocide Convention, formally known as the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, was adopted by the United Nations in 1948. It defines genocide as acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. The convention obligates signatory countries to prevent and punish such acts. The convention came in response to the atrocities of World War II, particularly the Holocaust, where millions were systematically murdered. It emphasizes the responsibility of nations to take action against genocide and to hold perpetrators accountable, reinforcing the importance of human rights and international law.