April 24 marks 110th anniversary of Armenian Genocide

Today, on April 24th, Armenians around the world, joined by many other nations, commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian Genocide – the systematic and premeditated killings of over 1,5 million Armenians, was perpetrated by the government of Young Turks in various regions of the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1915 during WWI.

The term Genocide was coined by Polish-Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin in 1944, whose family was one of the victims of the Holocaust. By defining this term, Prof. Lemkin sought to describe Nazi politics of systematic murder, violence and cruelty, as well as the atrocities committed against the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

The first international reaction to the violence resulted in a joint statement by France, Russia and Great Britain, in May 1915, where the Turkish atrocities directed against the Armenian people was defined as “new crime against humanity and civilization” agreeing that the Turkish government must be punished for committing such crimes.

When WWI erupted, the Young Turks government, hoping to save the remains of the weakened Ottoman Empire, adopted a policy of Pan Turkism – the establishment of a mega Turkish empire comprising of all Turkic-speaking peoples of the Caucasus and Central Asia extending to China, intending also to Turkify all ethnic minorities of the empire. The Armenian population became the main obstacle standing in the way of the realization of this policy.

There were an estimated two million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire before the WWI. Over one and a half million Armenians were killed from 1915-1923. Those who survived were either Islamized or exiled, or found shelters in different parts of the world.

The first phase of the Armenian Genocide started on April 24, 1915 with the arrest of several hundred Armenian intellectuals and representatives of national elite (mainly in the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Constantinople) and their subsequent elimination. Hereinafter, Armenians worldwide started to commemorate the Armenian genocide on April 24.

The second phase was the forced conscription of around 60,000 Armenian men into the Turkish military, who were later disarmed and murdered.

The third phase of the genocide was the exile and the massacres of women, children, and elderly people into the Syrian desert. Hundreds of thousands of people were murdered by Turkish soldiers, police officers, Kurdish and Circassian gangs during the deportation. Others died of disease. Thousands of women and children were subjected to violence. Tens of thousands were forcibly Islamized.

Finally, the last phase of the Armenian genocide appeared with the total and utter denial by Turkish government of the mass killings and elimination of the Armenian nation on its homeland. Despite the ongoing international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Turkey has consistently fought the acceptance of the Armenian Genocide by any means, including falsification of historical facts, propaganda campaigns, lobbying, etc.

On December 9, 1948 the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, according to which, genocide is defined as an international crime and the signing states are obliged to prevent, as well as punish the perpetrators of the genocide.

The fact of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman government has been documented, recognized, and affirmed in the form of media and eyewitness reports, laws, resolutions, and statements by many states and international organizations. The complete catalogue of all documents categorizing the 1915-23 widespread massacre of the Armenian population in Ottoman Empire as a premeditated and thoroughly executed act of Genocide, is extensive.

Despite the normalization attempts between Armenia and Turkiye since 2022, Ankara continues to deny the Armenian Genocide, falsely claiming that the Armenians who were killed were WWI victims and no genocide was perpetrated against them. 

Below is a brief list of those states and organizations, provincial governments and city councils which have acknowledged the Armenian Genocide

Parliamentary Resolutions, Laws and Declarations

Resolution of the Senate of Mexico on recognition of the Armenian Genocide – February 8, 2023
Declaration by the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia on the Recognition and Condemnation of the Armenian Genocide - May 6, 2021.
Resolution by the People's Council of the Syrian Arab Republic on recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire - February 13, 2020
Unanimous resolution of the U.S. Senate recognizing and condemning Armenian Genocide -December 12, 2019
Resolution of the U.S. House of Representatives approving U.S. position on Armenian Genocide -October 30, 2019
Position of the Assembly of the Republic (the Parliament of Portugal) on its position on the Armenian Genocide -April 26, 2019
Initiative of the chamber of deputies of Italy encouraging the government of Italy to recognize Armenian Genocide - April 10,2019
Decree of the President of France Emmanuel Macron recognizing April 24 as a National Memorial Day of Armenian Genocide -April 10, 2019
Resolution of the Chamber of Deputies of the parliament of Czech Republic condemning and recognizing Armenian Genocide and other crimes against humanity -April 26, 2017
The Senate of France confirmation of the bill criminalizing the negation of Armenian Genocide -October 14,2016
Resolution of the Knesset Committee on education, culture and sport of the State of Israel - August 1, 2016
Resolution of the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany - June 2, 2016
Resolution of the Senate of the Republic of Paraguay - October 29, 2015
Resolution of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Belgium - July 24, 2015
Resolution of the Federal Senate of the Federal Republic of Brazil - May 29, 2015
Resolution of the Parliament of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg - May 6, 2015
Statement of State Duma of Russian Federation on the Armenian Genocide Centennial - April 24, 2015
Statement by the President Federal Republic of Germany Joachim Gauck - April 23, 2015
Statement of the ‪‎Austrian Parliament on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire - 22 April, 2015
European Parliament Resolution dedicated to the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide - 15 April, 2015
Czech Republic, Resolution of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies of Parliament on the occasion of the Armenian Genocide Centenary - April 14 2015
Resolution of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile - April 14, 2015
Statement by Holy Father Francis during the Mass at the Vatican - April 12, 2015
Bolivia's Senate and the Chamber of Deputies Resolution - November 27, 2014
Sweden Riksdag Resolution - March 11, 2010
MERCOSUR, Joint Parliamentary Committee Resolution - Nov 19, 2007
S. House Committee Resolution - October 10, 2007
Chile, Senate Resolution - July 07, 2007
Argentina, Law - January 15, 2007
Argentina, Senate Special Statement - April 19, 2006
Lithuania, Assembly Resolution - December 15, 2005
European Parliament Resolution - September 28, 2005
Venezuela, National Assembly Resolution - July 14, 2005
Germany, Parliament Resolution - June 15, 2005
Argentina, Senate Resolution - April 20, 2005
Poland, Parliament Resolution - April 19, 2005
Netherlands, Parliament Resolution - December 21, 2004
Slovakia, National Assembly Resolution - November 30, 2004
Canada, House of Commons Resolution - April 21, 2004
Argentina, Senate Declaration - March 31, 2004
Uruguay, Law - March 26, 2004
Argentina, Draft Law - March 18, 2004
Switzerland (Helvetic Confederation), National Council Resolution - December 16, 2003
Argentina, Senate Resolution - August 20, 2003
Canada, Senate Resolution - June 13, 2002
European Parliament Resolution - February 28, 2002
Common Declaration of His Holiness John Paul II and His Holiness Karekin II at Holy Etchmiadzin, Republic of Armenia - September 27, 2001
Prayer of John Paul II, Memorial of Tsitsernakaberd - September 26, 2001
France, Law - January 29, 2001
Italy, Chamber of Deputies Resolution - November 16, 2000
European Parliament Resolution - November 15, 2000
France, Senate, Draft Law - November 7, 2000
Lebanon, Parliament Resolution - May 11, 2000
Sweden, Parliament Report - March 29, 2000
France, National Assembly Draft Law - May 28, 1998
Belgium, Senate Resolution - March 26, 1998
Lebanon, Chamber of Deputies Resolution - April 3, 1997
S. House of Representatives Resolution 3540 - June 11, 1996
Greece (Hellenic Republic), Parliament Resolution - April 25, 1996
Canada, House of Commons Resolution - April 23, 1996
Russia, Duma Resolution - April 14, 1995
Argentina, Senate Resolution - May 5, 1993
European Parliament Resolution - June 18, 1987
S. House of Representatives Joint Resolution 247 - September 12, 1984
Cyprus, House of Representatives, Resolution - April 29, 1982
S. House of Representatives Joint Resolution 148 - April 9, 1975
Uruguay, Senate and House of Representatives, Resolution - April 20, 1965
S. Senate Resolution 359 - May 11, 1920
S. Congress Act to Incorporate Near East Relief - August 6, 1919
S. Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 - February 9, 1916
France, Great Britain, and Russia, Joint Declaration - May 24, 1915

Chile Chamber of Deputies resolution April 25, 2024
International Organizations

Statement of the International Commission on Human Rights and Religious Freedoms regarding the recognition of the Armenian Genocide - February 1, 2022.
Resolution of the European Parliament encouraging the acceptance of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey - June 7, 2022
Parliament of Andean Community of Nations (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú)September 20, 2016.
International Organization of La Francophonie, Statement of Secretary-General - April 24 2015
The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity - April 9, 2007
Human Rights Association of Turkey, Istanbul Branch - April 24, 2006
International Center for Transitional Justice Report Prepared for TARC - February 10, 2003
European Alliance of YMCAs - July 20, 2002
Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly Declaration - April 24, 2001
Human Rights League - May 16, 1998
Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly Declaration - April 24, 1998
The Association of Genocide Scholars - June 13, 1997
Kurdistan Parliament in Exile - April 24, 1996
Union of American Hebrew Congregations - November 7, 1989
UN Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities - July 2, 1985
Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, Verdict of the Tribunal - April 16, 1984
World Council of Churches - August 10, 1983
UN General Assembly Resolution - December 9, 1948
UN War Crimes Commission Report - May 28, 1948

Provincial legislative bodies, governments, city councils

USA

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Australia

Province of New South Wales
Argentina

Province of Buenos Aires
Province of Cordoba
Canada

Alberta
British Columbia
Ontario (including the City of Toronto)
Quebec (including the City of Montreal)
Switzerland

Geneva Canton
Vaud Canton
Great Britain

Wales
Italy

Friuli-Venezia Giulia Regional Assembly
Municipality of Asiago
Municipality of Bagnacavallo
Municipality of Belluno
Municipality of Bertiolo
Municipality of Camponogara
Municipality of Casalecchio di Reno
Municipality of Castellammare di Stabia
Municipality of Castelsilano
Municipality of Cava de' Tirreni
Municipality of Conselice
Municipality of Cotignola
Municipality of Faenza
Municipality of Feltre
Municipality of Firenze
Municipality of Fusignano
Municipality of Genova
Municipality of Imola
Municipality of Lugo
Municipality of Massa Lombarda
Municipality of Milano
Municipality of Monteforte D'Alpone
Municipality of Montorso Vicentino
Municipality of Padova
Municipality of Parma
Municipality of Ponte di Piave
Municipality of Ravenna
Municipality of Reggio di Calabria
Municipality of Roma
Municipality of Russi
Municipality of S. Agata Sul Santerno
Municipality of S. Edigio del Monte Albino
Municipality of S. Stino Livenza
Municipality of Salgareda
Municipality of Sanguinetto
Municipality of Sesto San Giovanni
Municipality of Solarolo
Municipality of Thiene
Municipality of Tolfa
Municipality of Udine
Municipality of Venice
Municipality of Villafranca Padovana
Regional Council of Lazio
Regional Council of Tuscany
Sicilian Regional Assembly
Spain

Alcorcon
Aldaia
Alicante
Balearic Islands
Barcelona
Basque Country
Benalmadena
Betera
Burgos
Burjassot
Catalonia
Cullera
Malaga
Merida
Mislata
Navarre
Ontinyent
Paiporte
Pinto
Sabadell
San Sebastián
Santa Margarida i els Monjos
Soria
Torrent
Valencia
Villena
Xirivella
Belgium

Flemish Parliament Resolution
Austria

Vienna
Ukraine

Svatove city, Luhansk region
Mexico

Michoacán