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November 7, 2013 Thursday 10:00 AM GMT
Canadian Museum for Human Rights and Armenian Genocide Museum
Institute Sign Memorandum of Understanding
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA; Nov 07, 2013
Mr. Stuart Murray, President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), and Dr. Hayk Demoyan,
Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute (AGMI) of the
National Academy of Sciences, signed a memorandum of understanding
(MOU) today that will facilitate collaboration for the promotion of
human rights through joint projects and education.
The CMHR and the AGMI will exchange knowledge and expertise,
educational materials, and exhibitions with respect to human rights,
share research and advice, cooperate to advance the academic study of
human rights and reconciliation, the Armenian Genocide and its
effects, and processes seeking justice and reconciliation, and work
together to educate people on issues of human rights, in both national
and global contexts.
"Respect and protection for human rights is hard to build, but easy to
destroy. Every society that embraces human rights has to be
continually vigilant to promote and protect those human rights," Mr.
Stuart Murray said. "We are very pleased to be joining hands with the
Armenian Genocide Museum Institute to promote education, awareness and
dialogue about human rights."
The official signing of the MOU between the CMHR and AGMI has been
facilitated by the assistance of the International Institute for
Genocide and Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute
of Canada) - a Canadian organization which advances scholarship and
public awareness relating to issues of universal human rights,
genocide, and diaspora-homeland relations. Representatives of the
IIGHRS officially witnessed the signing and will serve an ongoing role
as liaison and facilitators.
"The Armenian Genocide is an important human rights story," said Dr.
Demoyan. "The concept of crimes against humanity was developed in
response to this horrific series of violations against the Armenian
people. The intent of the Ottoman Turkish government to annihilate its
Armenian citizens is not only a crime against humanity, but also
genocide. The denial of the genocide by the inheritors of the
perpetrator state and others is itself a violation of the human rights
of the survivors and their descendants. This partnership will help
bring the story of the Armenian Genocide to a wider audience, to the
benefit of generations to come."
During and after the First World War, the leaders of the Ottoman
Empire (the forerunner of the modern-day Republic of Turkey) made a
brutal attempt to destroy the empire's entire Armenian population,
targeting them on ethnic and religious grounds, along with other
Christian subjects-the Assyrians and Greeks. The Genocide began in
1915 with the execution of Armenian leaders. Then authorities rounded
up Armenian men, women and children. The victims were massacred or
forced on death marches through the desert. Many died of starvation.
The perpetrators tried to hide these mass killings from the world.
The first international reaction to the Genocide resulted in a joint
statement by France, Russia and Great Britain, in May 1915, where the
Ottoman Empire atrocities directed against the Armenian people was
defined as "new crimes against humanity and civilization." In 2004,
the Canadian House of Commons passed a resolution to recognize this
genocide.
"By raising awareness of the Armenian Genocide, we hope to remind
people of the importance of breaking the silence on human rights
violations. We look forward to working with the Canadian Museum for
Human Rights on this goal," said AGMI Director Demoyan.
There were an estimated two million Armenians living in their
ancestral homeland in the Ottoman Empire on the eve of the First World
War. Approximately one and a half million Armenians perished between
1915 and 1923. Another half million found shelter abroad.
One of the audience, Jack Garabed, a Manitoban descendant of an
Armenian Genocide survivor, came to see this historic partnership and
shared the story of his father, Garabedi Haroutounian. He spoke of his
grandfather being taken away one night and murdered. They took his
father away and placed him in an orphanage. He believes his
Grandmother escaped into Egypt with some of the younger children. His
father was forced to change religion. The Salvation Army arranged to
have three children in the orphanage, including his father,
transported to Canada. Haroutounian left the other two boys in
Montreal and continued on to Manitoba. He was fascinated by the train
ride, and wanted to extend it as far as he could. The train brought
him to Winnipeg, and from there he was placed with farmers in the
Killarney area.
About the Canadian Museum for Human Rights
The CMHR is the first museum in the world solely dedicated to the
evolution, celebration and future of human rights. It is the first
national museum in Canada to be built outside the National Capital
Region. The Museum will use immersive multi-media technology and other
innovative approaches to create an inspiring encounter with human
rights unlike anything visitors have experienced before.
About the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute
The Armenian Genocide Museum & Institute (AGMI) of the National
Academy of Sciences is a non-profit organization based in Yerevan,
Republic of Armenia. The mission of the Museum-Institute is the
academic and scientific study, analysis of the problems as well as
exhibition of the textual and visual documentation related to the
first Genocide of the 20th century.
About the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights
Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute)
The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (A
Division of the Zoryan Institute), led by President Greg Sarkissian,
Chairman Prof. Roger W. Smith, and Executive Director George
Shirinian, runs an annual course in comparative genocide studies in
partnership with the University of Toronto and is co-publisher of
Genocide Studies International in partnership with the University of
Toronto Press. It is the first non-profit, international center
devoted to the research and documentation of contemporary issues with
a focus on Genocide, Diaspora and Homeland.
SOURCE: Canadian Museum for Human Rights and The Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute
November 7, 2013 Thursday 10:00 AM GMT
Canadian Museum for Human Rights and Armenian Genocide Museum
Institute Sign Memorandum of Understanding
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA; Nov 07, 2013
Mr. Stuart Murray, President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), and Dr. Hayk Demoyan,
Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute (AGMI) of the
National Academy of Sciences, signed a memorandum of understanding
(MOU) today that will facilitate collaboration for the promotion of
human rights through joint projects and education.
The CMHR and the AGMI will exchange knowledge and expertise,
educational materials, and exhibitions with respect to human rights,
share research and advice, cooperate to advance the academic study of
human rights and reconciliation, the Armenian Genocide and its
effects, and processes seeking justice and reconciliation, and work
together to educate people on issues of human rights, in both national
and global contexts.
"Respect and protection for human rights is hard to build, but easy to
destroy. Every society that embraces human rights has to be
continually vigilant to promote and protect those human rights," Mr.
Stuart Murray said. "We are very pleased to be joining hands with the
Armenian Genocide Museum Institute to promote education, awareness and
dialogue about human rights."
The official signing of the MOU between the CMHR and AGMI has been
facilitated by the assistance of the International Institute for
Genocide and Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute
of Canada) - a Canadian organization which advances scholarship and
public awareness relating to issues of universal human rights,
genocide, and diaspora-homeland relations. Representatives of the
IIGHRS officially witnessed the signing and will serve an ongoing role
as liaison and facilitators.
"The Armenian Genocide is an important human rights story," said Dr.
Demoyan. "The concept of crimes against humanity was developed in
response to this horrific series of violations against the Armenian
people. The intent of the Ottoman Turkish government to annihilate its
Armenian citizens is not only a crime against humanity, but also
genocide. The denial of the genocide by the inheritors of the
perpetrator state and others is itself a violation of the human rights
of the survivors and their descendants. This partnership will help
bring the story of the Armenian Genocide to a wider audience, to the
benefit of generations to come."
During and after the First World War, the leaders of the Ottoman
Empire (the forerunner of the modern-day Republic of Turkey) made a
brutal attempt to destroy the empire's entire Armenian population,
targeting them on ethnic and religious grounds, along with other
Christian subjects-the Assyrians and Greeks. The Genocide began in
1915 with the execution of Armenian leaders. Then authorities rounded
up Armenian men, women and children. The victims were massacred or
forced on death marches through the desert. Many died of starvation.
The perpetrators tried to hide these mass killings from the world.
The first international reaction to the Genocide resulted in a joint
statement by France, Russia and Great Britain, in May 1915, where the
Ottoman Empire atrocities directed against the Armenian people was
defined as "new crimes against humanity and civilization." In 2004,
the Canadian House of Commons passed a resolution to recognize this
genocide.
"By raising awareness of the Armenian Genocide, we hope to remind
people of the importance of breaking the silence on human rights
violations. We look forward to working with the Canadian Museum for
Human Rights on this goal," said AGMI Director Demoyan.
There were an estimated two million Armenians living in their
ancestral homeland in the Ottoman Empire on the eve of the First World
War. Approximately one and a half million Armenians perished between
1915 and 1923. Another half million found shelter abroad.
One of the audience, Jack Garabed, a Manitoban descendant of an
Armenian Genocide survivor, came to see this historic partnership and
shared the story of his father, Garabedi Haroutounian. He spoke of his
grandfather being taken away one night and murdered. They took his
father away and placed him in an orphanage. He believes his
Grandmother escaped into Egypt with some of the younger children. His
father was forced to change religion. The Salvation Army arranged to
have three children in the orphanage, including his father,
transported to Canada. Haroutounian left the other two boys in
Montreal and continued on to Manitoba. He was fascinated by the train
ride, and wanted to extend it as far as he could. The train brought
him to Winnipeg, and from there he was placed with farmers in the
Killarney area.
About the Canadian Museum for Human Rights
The CMHR is the first museum in the world solely dedicated to the
evolution, celebration and future of human rights. It is the first
national museum in Canada to be built outside the National Capital
Region. The Museum will use immersive multi-media technology and other
innovative approaches to create an inspiring encounter with human
rights unlike anything visitors have experienced before.
About the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute
The Armenian Genocide Museum & Institute (AGMI) of the National
Academy of Sciences is a non-profit organization based in Yerevan,
Republic of Armenia. The mission of the Museum-Institute is the
academic and scientific study, analysis of the problems as well as
exhibition of the textual and visual documentation related to the
first Genocide of the 20th century.
About the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights
Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute)
The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (A
Division of the Zoryan Institute), led by President Greg Sarkissian,
Chairman Prof. Roger W. Smith, and Executive Director George
Shirinian, runs an annual course in comparative genocide studies in
partnership with the University of Toronto and is co-publisher of
Genocide Studies International in partnership with the University of
Toronto Press. It is the first non-profit, international center
devoted to the research and documentation of contemporary issues with
a focus on Genocide, Diaspora and Homeland.
SOURCE: Canadian Museum for Human Rights and The Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute