Australian lawmaker Caitlin Tough marks 111th anniversary of Sayfo and Armenia

CANBERRA — Last week, ACT legislator Caitlin Tough delivered a speech in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly marking the 111th anniversary of the genocide of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean), Armenian, and Pontic Greek peoples.

In her three-minute parliamentary address, Tough discussed the policies implemented against the Syriac, Armenian, and Pontic Greek populations within the Ottoman Empire, as well as the devastating human losses resulting from these events, which she described as one of the darkest chapters of the twentieth century.

In her speech, Tough highlighted a lesser-known aspect of this history: Australia’s extraordinary humanitarian response. She noted that Australian soldiers captured by the Ottomans during the First World War — particularly during the Gallipoli (Çanakkale) campaign — were among the first international witnesses to the mass deportations and killings, atrocities that claimed the lives of more than two million people.

She also drew attention to the efforts of the Australian people behind the front lines, recalling their contributions to fundraising campaigns for survivors, donations of essential supplies, and support for relief initiatives across the Middle East, including the establishment of orphanages.

Tough further expressed her support for a petition currently before the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly calling on the Territory Government to incorporate the 1915 genocides — already recognized by several Australian states — into the history curriculum of ACT schools. She praised the extraordinary efforts of local communities in mobilizing strong support for the petition.