Newsletter No 14

‘Armenian Genocide Bill’ to be debated

in House of Commons

 

Dear Members of the Armenian community in the United Kingdom,

Thank you for your continued support of ANC UK in our efforts to convince the UK government that Armenian Genocide recognition is an essential step towards realising both British and Armenian values in our shared plight for justice. Over the past few weeks, we have been working with various MPs and members of the APPG for Armenia to update parliamentarians on security issues concerning Artsakh, and also to influence the UK’s policy towards the Armenian Genocide. Subsequently, we are delighted to announce that an ‘Armenian Genocide Recognition Bill’ is scheduled for debate in the Commons on Tuesday 9th November, 2021.

We will continue to represent the interests of the Armenian community in the UK political arena, ensuring the voice of Armenians in the UK remains strong and influential. This newsletter provides a brief update on the actions we have taken to realise our goal of UK Genocide recognition, whilst affording our readership an update on the relevant parliamentary proceedings.

The events unfolding in Parliament: UK a step closer to formal Genocide recognition

On Tuesday 9th November, Chairman of the Armenian All Party Parliamentary Group Tim Loughton MP will be presenting his ‘Recognition of Armenian Genocide Bill’ for its First Reading in the House of Commons under the Ten-Minute Rule Bill procedure. 

The formal procedure is as follows: The bill will need 11 cosponsor signatories. The Bill’s sponsor is able to make a speech to support the Bill but there will be no further debate unless the measure is opposed by another MP. If MPs agree for the Bill to go forward it will be listed on the Order Paper for a Second Reading at a later date next year, though this will be subject to Parliamentary time and it is likely that other government promoted bills will take priority. The Bill will remain on the Order Paper for the Parliamentary term.

 

What does the Bill contain?

The Bill’s aim is to commemorate the Armenian Genocide through official recognition and remembrance. It contains two main subsections:

1. Recognition of genocide 

 

(1) There shall be a formal recognition that the killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and the surrounding regions during 1915-1923 were genocide. 

 

2. Requirement for commemoration 

 

(1) There shall be an annual commemoration of victims of genocides, including the Armenian Genocide. 

 

(2) That the education and public understanding of the facts of the Armenian Genocide and the relevance of the Armenian Genocide to modern-day crimes against humanity and war crimes are encouraged.

 

Why should the UK recognise the Armenian Genocide?

 

  1. A crime unpunished is a crime encouraged, creating a sense of impunity among future perpetrators, so it is critical that the Armenian Genocide is recognised to prevent future genocides. With the Armenian Genocide being unrecognised, Hitler used it as an example to his own generals to justify his actions ahead of his invasion of Poland in 1939 when he ended his chillingly infamous speech with, “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” Recognising the Armenian Genocide would prevent dictators from acting with this kind of impunity. 

  2. Armenians today face serious existential threats in the form of rising violent attacks from Turkish neo-fascists and a recent invasion from Azerbaijan that forced 90,000 Armenians to flee their homes due to the threat of ethnic cleansing. Armenian Genocide recognition would prevent such crimes from being repeated.

  3. Armenian Genocide recognition is the only way to encourage Turkey to truly accept a fair and just reconciliation with Armenia. It would also help prevent future political and military interventions in neighbouring countries that have caused severe instability in recent years, a key step for peace and prosperity in the region.

  4. Recognising the Armenian Genocide would demonstrate our government’s commitment to human rights and reaffirm our vision of a ‘Global Britain’, an important step for human rights and justice overall. 

 

The recognition of the Armenian Genocide is essential for the UK’s national interests for several reasons. The bill’s passage will uphold the UK’s commitment to the Genocide Convention, affirming its core values with regard to the Rule of Law, human rights and justice. Furthermore, recognition will ensure that all historical crimes against humanity are reported and recognised, enabling such atrocities to be cited as precedent when determining future acts of Genocide. 

By recognising the Armenian Genocide, the UK will be enhancing its commitment to the basic rights to which all humans should be entitled. Leaving a crime of such magnitude unrecognised conveys a dangerous message of impunity: that a crime unpunished is a crime encouraged. 

It is the UK’s role and duty as a global leader to recognise the Armenian Genocide, advancing genocide studies globally and increasing public understanding of crimes against humanity. Contrary to the Turkish government’s claims, it will not risk the UK’s trade relationship. Over the past two decades, France, Belgium and Canada’s trade volumes with Turkey have increased 257%, 174% and 148% respectively, despite their recognition of the Genocide in the same time period.

Last, there is precedent for genocide recognition by the UK in cases analogous to the Armenian Genocide. In April 2021, the UK Parliament rightfully declared that China is committing a genocide in Xinjiang against Uyghur Muslims, despite that genocide not being recognised by a competent court. This invalidates the UK’s stance on the Armenian Genocide, that “any determination of genocide should only be made by competent courts, rather than government or non-judicial bodies.”

 

Britain is one of the few leading Western countries that does not recognise the Armenian Genocide, indicating a gross failure to uphold the fundamental notions of justice to which it is committed. Tim Loughton’s Bill presents the UK with an opportunity to correct its record of injustice and impunity.

Artsakh

 

Baroness Cox has secured an Oral Question about Nagorno Karabakh on Monday 15 November. 

 

Baroness Cox is to ask HMG what assessment they have made of (1) reports of violations of Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement by the Government of Azerbaijan, and (2) the number of Armenian military and civilian personnel who have yet to be released by the Government of Azerbaijan.

Please also read the HART’s report on their recent visit to Armenia

https://www.hart-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Visit-Report_Armenia_September-2021_.pdf

 

ECHR finds Azerbaijan guilty of inhumane treatment and torture of Armenian captives

We are very happy to announce that the European Court of Human Rights has released its judgement recognising Azerbaijan’s violations of Article 2, 3 and 5 of the European convention on Human Rights, regarding the murder of two Armenian captives in 2014.

Azerbaijan was convicted of violating the right to life, liberty and security. Additionally, the court decided they have violated obligations to the non-use of torture and the discrimination of Armenian captives.

We anticipate a similar verdict for Azerbaijani crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the Artsakh war of 2020.

Read the full judgement here: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/app/conversion/pdf/?library=ECHR&id=003-7171413-9731286&filename=Judgments%20and%20decisions%20of%2004.11.2021.pdf 

Please give today to help our campaigns

ANC UK has so far worked in volunteering capacity, campaigning on behalf of the Armenian community, continuously pushing the UK government on the issues of Artsakh and the Armenian Genocide, helping remove pro-Azeri propaganda in London, and providing direct assistance to the officers and members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Armenia.

As we move into the next phase of our campaigning, with an EDM which has attracted serious attention (see below), and a private member’s Bill on the Armenian Genocide due to be put forward within this parliamentary term we need our community’s help to ensure we can gain the support of more parliamentarians. This means, supporting the campaign by contacting your MPs and donating to ANC UK to help us hire a much-needed permanent staff member.

With everything that we’ve all been through and all that lies ahead, we need your faith, your friendship, and financial generosity more than ever before

Donate Now

Write to your MP now

How you can help

1. Write to your MP using a personal message, with a compelling story of why the issue of the Armenian Genocide matter to you, asking them for a meeting. If you secure a meeting, ANC UK will be happy to brief you ahead of this and provide you with any necessary materials.

2. Get in touch with us by responding to this email if you are interested in becoming a rapid responder, giving you the opportunity to be more involved in our campaigning work and allowing us to use your name in contacting MPs quickly and directly.

3. Get in touch if you would like to engage with your MP on the issue of the Armenian Genocide and would like support in contacting them.

Want to support the work of ANC UK?

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