Armenian Assembly of America
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PRESS RELEASE
June 26, 2009
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
NEWLY INTRODUCED LEGISLATION MAKES CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY A VIOLATION
OF U.S. LAW
Armenian Assembly Signs Letter Urging Passage of Act
Washington, DC – The Crimes Against Humanity Act, legislation that would
make it a violation of U.S. law to commit a crime against humanity was
introduced this week by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy
(D-VT) and Russ Feingold (D-WI), reported the Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly). The intent of the legislation is to prevent
perpetrators of the worst human rights violations from finding safe
haven in the United States.
Senator Durbin, Assistant Senate Majority Leader and Chairman of the
Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law, commented, "The
United States led the first prosecutions for crimes against humanity in
the Nuremberg trials, following the Second World War. These horrible
crimes, however, are still taking place. Our promise to hold accountable
those who commit the most unspeakable crimes will ring hollow unless we
lead the world in punishing those responsible for the gravest human
rights violations."
"The Armenian Assembly commends Senators Durbin, Leahy and Feingold for
introducing this important legislation," said Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. "It was Henry Morgenthau, Ambassador to the
Ottoman Empire, who alerted the world to the horrors of the Armenian
Genocide setting in motion America’s first international humanitarian
intervention to help save the survivors. America’s response at that time
was unprecedented. Chairman Durbin’s legislation represents another step
forward in the cause of genocide prevention by ensuring that the
perpetrators of such heinous acts cannot find refuge in the United
States."
A broad coalition of advocacy organizations, including the Assembly,
signed a letter sent to Chairman Durbin, urging passage of this
legislation, which "has not existed before today, despite the U.S.
government’s sustained efforts to ensure accountability for crimes
against humanity elsewhere." The letter went on to read, "though U.S.
law prohibits grave human rights violations such as genocide and
torture, alleged perpetrators of crimes against humanity may escape
accountability due not to their innocence of unforgivable acts but to
loopholes in the U.S. criminal code. The Crimes Against Humanity Act of
2009 would close this illogical gap in U.S. law."
Last year, Ardouny submitted written testimony to a Subcommittee hearing
entitled, "From Nuremberg to Darfur: Accountability for Crimes Against
Humanity," which read, "The U.S. can and must utilize the resources at
its disposal to stem the loss of life and end the cycle of genocidal
violence… We urge this Subcommittee to continue to actively generate
and introduce new mechanisms to better protect potential victims from
future genocides and the consequences of genocide denial."
In 2007, Durbin authored of the Genocide Accountability Act, which the
Assembly supported and was signed into law. Durbin has also taken the
lead in spearheading legislation to reaffirm the Armenian Genocide,
which despite incontrovertible evidence, Turkey continues to deny.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c) (3)
tax-exempt membership organization.
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NR#2009-057