Our Claims on Genocide Become More Substantial

• 10.23.2017, 17:27
• Liana Hovhannisyan
•  America,  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  World

Days before the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights (ALC), located in Washington, USA, the members of which are not only from the USA, but from Austria, Australia, Lebanon, Canada, as well as Armenia, came up with an important initiative, the aim of which is to create a database documenting confiscated properties of the Armenians in the Ottoman Turkey. According to the representatives of the Center, the initiative will help to make the demand for the compensation for the damage of the Armenian Genocide more substantial increasing the Diaspora’s ability to advocate for justice in the political and legal spheres.

Such initiatives by Diaspora organizations are positive in terms of transferring the Armenian struggle to a new level, that is from Genocide recognition to the demand for compensation (another initiative aimed at this transition was the lawsuit filed first to the Constitutional Court of Turkey, then to the European Court of Human rights to return the seat of Sis Catholicosate to Armenians).  Such a transition contains a clear demand addressed both to Turkey and to the international community that the recognition of Genocide cannot be an end itself and its logical continuation should be the compensation of the physical and psychological damages done to the Armenians.

However, as in any case, this time as well it will not be possible to succeed, if we are not consistent and do not ensure the continuity of the struggle. For this purpose, first of all, it is necessary to widen the scope of this initiative engaging the international organizations dealing with such legal issues as well as internationally high-ranking lawyers. In parallel to that at various international platforms we should voice about the necessity to have internationally accepted mechanism to calculate the physical, as well as psychological damages caused by genocides. Once developed, such a mechanism can become a unique tool not only to restore justice, but to prevent future possible genocides.  

A mechanism for damage calculation is also necessary for closed border and isolation, which is, to put it mildly, unacceptable in the present times of globalization and civilization. These are the work directions, which will make our struggle more substantial, ensuring its sustainability.