ZORYAN ANNOUNCES ACCREDITED GENOCIDE AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM

zoryan-announces-accredited-genocide-and-human-rig hts-program/
March 1, 2010
TORONTO, Canada

The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
recently announced the ninth year of the Genocide and Human Rights
University Program (GHRUP), which will be held in Toronto from
Aug. 2-13. Offered in collaboration with the University of Toronto,
the program allows registered students to earn graduate-level credits.

The GHRUP is often described by students as a life-changing
experience. Said one student, "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."

Incorporating genocide theory, history, sociology, political science,
and international law, and through a comparative analysis of several
case studies (such as the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, Cambodia,
Rwanda, Darfur) and a number of special themes, the GHRUP explores
such issues as the foundations of human rights; international politics
and genocide; international law and genocide; the preconditions of
genocide; patterns of genocide; conflict resolution and reconciliation;
genocide denial; and genocide prevention.

Major Brent Beardsley, an officer with the UN peacekeeping forces and
an eye-witness to the Rwandan Genocide, is an instructor at the GHRUP.

He expressed the course’s ability to "look at the bigger crime of
genocide but always focus on, at the very heart of it, the horrendous
human tragedy, and the responsibility we have to maintain their memory
and to pass that memory on to others."

Prof. Herbert Hirsch of Virginia Commonwealth University, one of
the editors of "Genocide Studies & Prevention: An International
Journal" and a teacher of prevention at the GHRUP, said the program
is "one of the only programs that I have in fact ever heard of where
students are in attendance for two very intense weeks, eight hours
a day, where they are exposed to some of the leading scholars in
their field to teach their specialties. … Here they are exposed
to…eight different professors, all of whom are doing what they
know best. Students get to interact with them, they get to interact
with each other, they learn from the professors, they learn from each
other, and the professors learn from the students. This is, in fact,
a unique educational experience for everyone who participates."

Students currently registered at the University of Toronto and graduate
students from any university in Ontario may receive credit with no
additional cost in tuition. Undergraduate students registered at
other institutions across the province may make special arrangements
for the same privilege. Students in other jurisdictions who wish to
take the course for credit must make special arrangements with their
local institution.

Applicants must be current or recent university students with a minimum
of three years of undergraduate experience. Details and registration
information are available on or by emailing
admin@genocidestudies.org.

The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (a
division of the Zoryan Institute) is dedicated to scholarly research
and dissemination of knowledge regarding the phenomenon of genocide
in all of its aspects, to create an awareness of it as an ongoing
scourge and promote the necessity of preventing it.