INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR GENOCIDE AND HUMAN RIGHTS STUDIES
(A Division of the Zoryan Institute)
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736 E-mail: admin@genocidestudies.org

PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Torrey Swan

DATE: August 31, 2007 Tel:
416-250-9807

Zoryan’s Genocide and Human Rights University Program Graduates 175th
Student

Toronto, Canada- Upon the conclusion of the sixth annual of the Genocide
and Human Rights University Program (GHRUP), Prof. Roger W. Smith,
Director of the program, stated that "encouraging the development of the
next generation of genocide scholars is crucial for creating the
capability to recognize impending genocides and the will to prevent
them." The GHRUP, run by the International Institute for Genocide and
Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) (IIGHRS) in
partnership with the University of Minnesota, has now graduated over 175
students from this comparative genocide studies program. "Currently,
there is also much work that needs to be done regarding the aftermath of
genocides, in terms of justice, reconciliation and reconstruction,"
Prof. Smith continued. "It is this generation, properly prepared, spread
out through our global society, which will serve as the enduring force
of human rights protection."

When asked about his experience at the GHRUP, Dr. Alex Hinton, Prof. of
Anthropology and Global Affairs at Rutgers University, exclaimed "what a
great group of students!" Sentiments shared by Dr. Herbert Hirsch,
Editor of Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal and
Prof. of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth
University, who said that "the program is, by far, the best of its kind
and the students were tremendous." Dr. Joyce A. Apsel, historian,
attorney and Master Teacher at New York University, is "compelled to
teach at the GHRUP because education is fundamental to preventing
genocide and the GHRUP successfully brings together those who will work
to raise awareness of the tragedy of genocide." Dr. William A. Schabas,
Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights and Chair in Human Rights
Law at the National University of Ireland, travels all the way to
Toronto each year to teach in the program, because he "would not want to
miss such a special opportunity with this unique course." Dr. Maureen
Hiebert, Research Fellow at the Centre for Military and Strategic
Studies at the University of Calgary, added that "what makes the GHRUP
so worth while for me as a genocide scholar is the sense of genuine
camaraderie that evolves every year during the course. Despite the fact
that we study such a pressing and depressing subject, the participants’
common concern for the plight of humanity and our common sense of
purpose to end genocide seems to generate a bond among the students and
faculty unlike anything I have experienced in a typical university
setting."

Twenty-six advanced international students, working with eleven renowned
scholars and dynamic teachers in the fields of anthropology, education,
history, international law, philosophy, political science, and
sociology, completed an intense, two-week, graduate-level seminar on
genocide, the challenges of its prevention and reconciliation. "This
year was a very strong class, with seven doctoral candidates, seven MA
students, two senior undergraduates, two NGO employees, two anti-denial
activists, two teachers, a lawyer, a Human Rights Archivist, a theatre
director, and a documentary filmmaker," reflected Torrey Swan,
Coordinator of the program. "These committed students came from
Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Italy, Turkey,
the United Kingdom, and the United States."

"Beyond the strong academic composition of the program, I was pleased
to see the various ways students are engaged in addressing human rights
violations," stated George Shirinian, Executive Director of the IIGHRS.
"For example," he continued, "there were two representatives from the
Luisa Hairabedian Foundation in Buenos Aires. One is developing an
Armenian Genocide curriculum for the school system there. The other has
launched a case for a truth trial (a formal means of addressing past
injustices) in the Argentinean legal system regarding the Genocide.
There was also a legal activist against Armenian Genocide denial from
Vienna."

Students discuss the genocide in Darfur, Sudan with Dr. Scott Straus,
Prof. of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin

Many of the students gave feedback at the end of the program. One
student felt that "this course is very comprehensive and has definitely
increased my knowledge of the field. It was structurally well put
together and had an excellent curriculum, containing numerous relevant
concepts and methodological approaches." Describing their motivation
for attending the GHRUP, another student "came to figure-out what path
(they) wanted to take and how (they) could go about following it. This
program really facilitated that." One spoke for many by saying that
"this is my passion and I want to make a difference." Another student
concluded that "The course not only met, but surpassed my expectations.
The interdisciplinary nature of its approach, the well qualified
professors, the organization and the opportunity for exchange and the
impressively insightful and diverse student body made this last two
weeks an excellent learning and thinking experience for me."

Aren Sarkiyan, the Fundraising Coordinator, during a presentation at
graduation, expressed his sincere gratitude to the sponsors of the
program: Varouj Aivazian, Diran Avedian, Ara Boyajian, Sara Chitjian,
the Daughters of Vartan (Toronto), Shant and Nayri Gueyikian, Dicran and
Diane Hadjetian, Edgar Hagopian, Mig and Ani Migirdicyan, the National
Association for Armenian Studies and Research, André and Seza
Nazarian, and Joe Yalkezian, by saying, "it was because of their
donations that we were able to raise $20,000 towards this year’s
education program. This is very helpful to the Institute, however, there
is a lot to be done, and hopefully people will be more responsive to our
fundraising efforts, as the cost of holding a two week graduate course
with eleven professors and international students- travel,
accommodation, course material, classroom facilities, etc. – is over
$100,000."

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 the comparative and interdisciplinary analysis of
such cases of genocide as the Jewish Holocaust, the Cambodian Genocide,
the Rwandan Genocide, and the Darfurian 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,
admin@genocidestudies.org.
From: Baghdasarian