ZORYAN INSTITUTE OF CANADA, INC.
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736 E-mail: [email protected]
April 24, 2004
Reflections on the Official Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the
Canadian Parliament
April is the month for remembering genocide. The Armenian Genocide of
1915-1923, the Jewish Holocaust of 1939-1945, and the Rwandan Genocide of
1994, are all commemorated during this month. It is a time of considerable
public activity, with lectures, candle-light vigils, commemorations,
speeches, religious services, and other special events. It is also a time
for serious personal reflection, not only on what happened and why, but
what it means to the world today.
It is noteworthy that the Members of the Canadian Parliament–from PEI to
British Columbia, from the Northwest Territories to the US border, from
regions where there is not a single Armenian voter or lobbyist–chose to
recognize the Genocide in a free vote according to their individual
conscience, and in keeping with their Canadian values and human rights
principles. This does not mean that some MP’s did not vote for political
reasons.
An editorial in the April 24, 2004 issue of the Globe and Mail, Canada’s
national newspaper, on the recognition of the Genocide is another example
of Canadian human rights values. It explains that in a country in which
diversity is a fact of life, society must be based on respect for human
rights. This represents a position which is hard to attribute to lobbying
activity. It is simply a matter that “If this diverse country stresses
human rights on the domestic scene, it can hardly deny their value in the
larger world.”
There is a growing number of countries making the special effort to
recognize the Armenian Genocide. Canada is only the most recent of some two
dozen countries and international organizations that officially recognize
the Genocide.
There is no denying the hard work of numerous Armenian civic, political,
academic, religious, and human rights organizations and individuals who
work with these officials, keeping them informed and engaged on the issues.
We believe at the same time that it is critical to acknowledge the numerous
non-Armenians–Americans, Canadians, French, Germans, Jews, Swiss, Turks,
etc., politicians, scholars and human rights activists–who, for no reason
other than their principles, continue to struggle for truth, justice and
human rights. It is fitting at this time to remember the cumulative efforts
of all those for whom affirmation of the Armenian Genocide is a victory for
universal human rights.