Students at Zoryan University Program Explore the Complexities of Genocide and Prevention

Toronto, Canada—Twelve instructors, many of them renowned scholars in the fields of sociology, political science, history and international law, and twenty international students were engaged in an intense two-week graduate-level seminar on genocide and the challenges of its prevention.

“How to prevent genocide is one of the most difficult, yet one of the most crucial questions we face today,” stated Prof. Roger W. Smith, Director of the internationally acclaimed Genocide and Human Rights University Program. “It is influenced by the geo-politics of the world’s major powers, their perceived national interest, and a lack of awareness in society at large about the causes and the terrible human toll of this crime,” he continued. “With backgrounds from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North and South America, the students came to realize that people are capable of committing genocide in any society. Empowered by the knowledge imparted during the course, the students wrestled with the task of trying to develop effective ways and means for genocide prevention.”

One of Zoryan’s long-time supporters, Sara Chitjian, a second generation survivor of the Armenian Genocide, made a special trip from Los Angeles to asses the course and meet some of the students personally. Moved by the breadth and depth of the program, and the intense engagement of the students with the professors, she announced to the class that as a retired teacher and genocide survivor she understood the importance of this unique program and its potential to bring about change in the hearts and minds of people to prevent genocide. She then presented a cheque for $15,000 in support of the work and publications of the institute.

Taner Akçam, Professor of Record for the University of Minnesota, the GHRUP’s accrediting institution and partner with the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, felt strongly that “this program should be made available in universities all over world, as only through such informed consciousness and understanding can societies influence governments and structures of power to intervene and prevent genocide from occurring.”

Ziya Meral, a student from Turkey completing his MS in Sociology at the London School of Economics, observed that "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. I would thoroughly encourage anyone with a background in genocide, reconciliation, peace and human rights studies, or with an interest in working in the field, to consider applying this program."

Mariam Matevosyan, a MA student from Armenia specializing in Peace and Conflict Transformation in Norway, stated that “the debate on the French bill penalizing the denial of the Armenian genocide and its political, psychological, and sociological impact for Armenians, Turks and European at large, was especially of interest to me given the incredible tension generated in the class due to the clashing priorities between legal mechanism to deter denial verse the need to protect freedom of speech and expression. These sensitive and emotional issues were dealt with in an academic setting providing a solid intellectual context which interconnected history, narrative, identity, and politics.”

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 a comparative and interdisciplinary analysis of such cases of genocide as the Jewish Holocaust, the Cambodian Genocide, and the Rwandan 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