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Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia
to the United Nations
119E 36th street, New York, NY 10016
Tel.: 1-212-686-9079
Fax: 1-212-686-3934
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.un.int/armenia/
April 3, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Forum on Genocide at the UN
On Thursday, March 30, 2006, the Permanent Missions of Armenia and Rwanda,
and the Armenian General Benevolent Union, organized a Forum on genocide and
its prevention at the United Nations entitled "Genocide Then and Now:
Lessons Learned for the Twenty-first Century." The Forum attempted to
discuss the lessons learnt from the first and last genocides of the
twentieth century and the international community's role in prevention of
the future recurrences of this ultimate crime against humanity.
The Panel featured Mr. Juan E. Mendez, Special Advisor to the UN
Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, Mr. Vahakn Dadrian,
Director of Genocide Research at Zoryan Institute, and Ms. Yael Danieli,
Co-President of International Network of Holocaust and Genocide Studies. The
Forum was moderated by Ms. Andrea Kannapell, Weekend Editor of the New York
Times Foreign Desk.
Professor Dadrian spoke about impunity and denial as contributing factors
for repetition of genocide. He analyzed in detail the investigations carried
out by the Turkish authorities in 1918-1920 and the subsequent
determinations of its military tribunals of the time, and the later reversal
of the official policy and embracing of the denial of the Armenian genocide
by Turkey. He stressed the negative impact of the World War I as a factor
used to disguise the atrocities being committed.
Prominent psychologist Yael Danieli focused on the psycho-social aspects of
genocide, specifically stressing the need for healing for the genocide
survivors. She dwelled upon compensation, restitution, rehabilitation and
commemoration as some of the aspects imperative for recovery. Dr. Danieli
also spoke of the important role the gachacha courts play in the current
reconciliation and recovery efforts in Rwanda.
Mr. Mendez elaborated on the UN's role in the prevention of genocide
mentioning that he was guided by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. He emphasized that four steps are
important in the prevention of future massacres: protection of civilians,
accountability, humanitarian relief in all its aspects, including social and
medical, and prevention of the underlying causes of conflict. He underlined
the importance of the civil society in generating political will in places
where it lacks to step up the efforts to prevent or stop genocidal policies.
Mr. Mendez spoke of the importance of prevention and resolution of conflicts
as the latter provide an environment conducive to mass atrocities.
During a brief question and answer session, a Turkish professor,
participating at the Forum, made an unsuccessful attempt to divert the
discussion by making comments in the spirit of denial. Other questions
raised concerned the issues of prevention of genocide and the problems
facing the children that have survived genocide in Rwanda.
END
to the United Nations
119E 36th street, New York, NY 10016
Tel.: 1-212-686-9079
Fax: 1-212-686-3934
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.un.int/armenia/
April 3, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Forum on Genocide at the UN
On Thursday, March 30, 2006, the Permanent Missions of Armenia and Rwanda,
and the Armenian General Benevolent Union, organized a Forum on genocide and
its prevention at the United Nations entitled "Genocide Then and Now:
Lessons Learned for the Twenty-first Century." The Forum attempted to
discuss the lessons learnt from the first and last genocides of the
twentieth century and the international community's role in prevention of
the future recurrences of this ultimate crime against humanity.
The Panel featured Mr. Juan E. Mendez, Special Advisor to the UN
Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, Mr. Vahakn Dadrian,
Director of Genocide Research at Zoryan Institute, and Ms. Yael Danieli,
Co-President of International Network of Holocaust and Genocide Studies. The
Forum was moderated by Ms. Andrea Kannapell, Weekend Editor of the New York
Times Foreign Desk.
Professor Dadrian spoke about impunity and denial as contributing factors
for repetition of genocide. He analyzed in detail the investigations carried
out by the Turkish authorities in 1918-1920 and the subsequent
determinations of its military tribunals of the time, and the later reversal
of the official policy and embracing of the denial of the Armenian genocide
by Turkey. He stressed the negative impact of the World War I as a factor
used to disguise the atrocities being committed.
Prominent psychologist Yael Danieli focused on the psycho-social aspects of
genocide, specifically stressing the need for healing for the genocide
survivors. She dwelled upon compensation, restitution, rehabilitation and
commemoration as some of the aspects imperative for recovery. Dr. Danieli
also spoke of the important role the gachacha courts play in the current
reconciliation and recovery efforts in Rwanda.
Mr. Mendez elaborated on the UN's role in the prevention of genocide
mentioning that he was guided by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. He emphasized that four steps are
important in the prevention of future massacres: protection of civilians,
accountability, humanitarian relief in all its aspects, including social and
medical, and prevention of the underlying causes of conflict. He underlined
the importance of the civil society in generating political will in places
where it lacks to step up the efforts to prevent or stop genocidal policies.
Mr. Mendez spoke of the importance of prevention and resolution of conflicts
as the latter provide an environment conducive to mass atrocities.
During a brief question and answer session, a Turkish professor,
participating at the Forum, made an unsuccessful attempt to divert the
discussion by making comments in the spirit of denial. Other questions
raised concerned the issues of prevention of genocide and the problems
facing the children that have survived genocide in Rwanda.
END