The crime of genocide has no and cannot have any justification, Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan said in a message marking the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
“On April 24, we commemorate the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide, reaffirming the primacy of human dignity and fundamental rights.
At the beginning of the last century, Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire were subjected to organized mass atrocities—brutal killings, forced displacement and inhuman suffering. This was one of the gravest crimes in human history, accompanied by mass violations of the right to life, forced deportations and torture.
The crime of genocide has no and cannot have any justification.
This day is another reminder that preventing such crimes is a key responsibility of states and the international community, while accountability for such acts is the most important tool of prevention.
Impunity undermines the foundations of justice and breeds new crimes. Even today, various manifestations of ethnically motivated hatred remain a reality. They create fertile ground for genocide and crimes against humanity and must therefore be met with an adequate response.
Respect for human rights, the rule of law, and the elimination of all forms of discrimination must be the pillars of every society. Our efforts must be united in preventing hate speech, hate crimes, intolerance and all forms of discrimination.
The anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is another reminder that we must be more united in protecting the rights and dignity of every individual, regardless of national or ethnic origin, religious beliefs or any other circumstance,” the message said.
Manasyan added that the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide is not only a testimony to the past, but also a responsibility toward the present and the future—to prevent such crimes and to build a just, equal and human-centered society.
