INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR GENOCIDE AND HUMAN RIGHTS STUDIES
(A Division of the Zoryan Institute)
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807
Fax: 416-512-1736
E-mail: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Torrey Swan
DATE: August 24, 2006
Tel: 416-250-9807
Students at Zoryan University Program Explore
the Complexities of Genocide and Prevention
Toronto, Canada – Twelve instructors, many of them renowned scholars in
the fields of sociology, political science, history and international
law, and twenty international students were engaged in an intense
two-week graduate-level seminar on genocide and the challenges of
its prevention.
"How to prevent genocide is one of the most difficult, yet one of
the most crucial questions we face today," stated Prof. Roger W.
Smith, Director of the internationally acclaimed Genocide and Human
Rights University Program. "It is influenced by the geo-politics
of the world’s major powers, their perceived national interest,
and a lack of awareness in society at large about the causes and the
terrible human toll of this crime," he continued. "With backgrounds
from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North and South America,
the students came to realize that people are capable of committing
genocide in any society. Empowered by the knowledge imparted during
the course, the students wrestled with the task of trying to develop
effective ways and means for genocide prevention."
One of Zoryan’s long-time supporters, Sara Chitjian, a second
generation survivor of the Armenian Genocide, made a special trip
from Los Angeles to assess the course and meet some of the students
personally. Moved by the breadth and depth of the program, and the
intense engagement of the students with the professors, she announced
to the class that as a retired teacher and genocide survivor she
understood the importance of this unique program and its potential
to bring about change in the hearts and minds of people to prevent
genocide. She then presented a cheque for $15,000 in support of the
work and publications of the institute.
Taner Akcam, Professor of Record for the University of Minnesota, the
GHRUP’s accrediting institution and partner with the International
Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, felt strongly that
"this program should be made available in universities all over world,
as only through such informed consciousness and understanding can
societies influence governments and structures of power to intervene
and prevent genocide from occurring."
Ziya Meral, a student from Turkey completing his MS in Sociology
at the London School of Economics, observed that "the GHRUP offers a
brilliant opportunity for everyone who is interested in deepening their
understanding of the phenomenon of genocide and ways we can work for
its prevention. Its high academic standard, friendly and encouraging
atmosphere provide a great setting to tackle and process one of
the most destructive sides of human existence. I would thoroughly
encourage anyone with a background in genocide, reconciliation, peace
and human rights studies, or with an interest in working in the field,
to consider applying to this program."
Mariam Matevosyan, a MA student from Armenia specializing in Peace
and Conflict Transformation in Norway, stated that "the debate on
the French bill penalizing the denial of the Armenian genocide and
its political, psychological, and sociological impact for Armenians,
Turks and European at large, was especially of interest to me given
the incredible tension generated in the class due to the clashing
priorities between legal mechanism to deter denial verse the need
to protect freedom of speech and expression. These sensitive and
emotional issues were dealt with in an academic setting providing a
solid intellectual context which interconnected history, narrative,
identity, and politics."
The mission of the Genocide and Human Rights University Program is to
help develop a new generation of scholars to engage in research and
publication in the field of genocide and human rights studies. This
goal is achieved through a comparative and interdisciplinary analysis
of such cases of genocide as the Jewish Holocaust, the Cambodian
Genocide, and the Rwandan Genocide, among others, using the Armenian
Genocide, the archetypal genocide of the 20th Century, as a point
of reference.
For support and/or more information, contact the International
Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, 416-250-9807,
[email protected]