Reflections on the Official Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Canadian Parliament

April is the month for remembering genocide. The Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, the Jewish Holocaust of 1939-1945, and the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, are all commemorated during this month. It is a time of considerable public activity, with lectures, candle-light vigils, commemorations, speeches, religious services, and other special events. It is also a time for serious personal reflection, not only on what happened and why, but what it means to the world today.

It is noteworthy that the Members of the Canadian Parliament--from PEI to British Columbia, from the Northwest Territories to the US border, from regions where there is not a single Armenian voter or lobbyist--chose to recognize the Genocide in a free vote according to their individual conscience, and in keeping with their Canadian values and human rights principles. This does not mean that some MP's did not vote for political reasons.

An editorial in the April 24, 2004 issue of the Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper, on the recognition of the Genocide is another example of Canadian human rights values. It explains that in a country in which diversity is a fact of life, society must be based on respect for human rights. This represents a position which is hard to attribute to lobbying activity. It is simply a matter that "If this diverse country stresses human rights on the domestic scene, it can hardly deny their value in the larger world."

There is a growing number of countries making the special effort to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Canada is only the most recent of some two dozen countries and international organizations that officially recognize the Genocide.

There is no denying the hard work of numerous Armenian civic, political, academic, religious, and human rights organizations and individuals who work with these officials, keeping them informed and engaged on the issues. We believe at the same time that it is critical to acknowledge the numerous non-Armenians--Americans, Canadians, French, Germans, Jews, Swiss, Turks, etc., politicians, scholars and human rights activists--who, for no reason other than their principles, continue to struggle for truth, justice and human rights. It is fitting at this time to remember the cumulative efforts of all those for whom affirmation of the Armenian Genocide is a victory for universal human rights.