108 years ago, on April 24, 1915, the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey) began rounding up Armenian political and cultural leaders in Constantinople, marking the beginning of what would come to be known as the Armenian genocide. Over the next year or so, over a million Armenians would die — executed, murdered, or left to die of exhaustion and starvation. Many others would be exiled, losing their homeland forever. Turkey, meanwhile, insists what happened was not genocide, contests the number of victims, and punishes citizens who dispute the official version: Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk and Booker Prize nominee Elif Shafak, both of whom faced legal proceedings, are a case in point.

       According to Article II of the United Nations (UN) Convention on Genocide of December 1948,genocide has been described as carrying out acts intended “to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group”. Raphael Lemkin,the Polish lawyer, coined the term “genocide” in 1943.

• • The Armenian Genocide is called the first genocide of the 20^th Century.
  • It refers to the systematic annihilation of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1917.
  • After the First World Warbroke out in November 1914, the Ottoman Turks participated in the war, siding with Germany and the Austro-Hungarian empire.
  • The Ottoman Turks believed the Armenians would side with Russiain the war. This resulted in the Ottoman Turks engaging in a mass-removal campaign of Armenians from the border areas along the Eastern Front.
  • On 24^thApril, 1915, Ottoman Turkish government officials arrested and executed thousands of Armenian intellectuals. It was the start of the Armenian Genocide.
  • Armenian families,including small children, were forced to walk for days without food, water and shelter in the deserts of Syria and Arabia.
  • According to estimates, approximately 1.5 million Armenians diedduring the genocide, either in massacres and in killings, or from ill treatment, abuse and starvation.

Significance of this Recognition:

• • The acknowledgement by the US government will have little legal impact on Turkey,other than becoming a cause for embarrassment for the country and giving other countries the impetus to also acknowledge the genocide. According to the Armenian National Institute,30 countries officially recognise the Armenian Genocide.
  • Turkey’s Response: Such moves wouldonly set back the already strained relationship between US and Turkey, both of whom are North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies. Ties between the US and Turkey have been strained overa range of issues that include Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 defence systems, foreign policy differences with regard to Syria, human rights and other intersecting legal issues. Turkey has acknowledged that atrocities were committed against Armenians, but denies it was a genocide(which comes with legal implications) and challenges the estimates that 1.5 million were killed.

India’s Stand:

India, that has not formally recognised the Armenian Genocide has primarily adopted this stance in the interests of its wider foreign policy decisions and geo-political interests in the region. India does not have any domestic law on genocide,even though it has ratified the United Nations Convention on Genocide. This was even observed by the Delhi High Court inState v. Sajjan Kumar (2018). The case concerned the mass killing of Sikhs during the anti-Sikh riots in 1984 in Delhi — and throughout the country.

Genocide Convention:

The Genocide Convention, also known as the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, is an international treaty that was adopted by the UNGA on December 9, 1948. The purpose is to prevent and punish the crime of genocide and requires signatory nations to take action to prevent and punish genocide, including by enacting laws that criminalize the crime of genocide and by cooperating with other nations in the investigation and prosecution of individuals suspected of committing genocide. The Convention also establishes the International Court of Justice as the primary judicial body responsible for interpreting and enforcing the Convention. It was the first human rights treaty adopted by the General Assembly of the UN on 9 December 1948.

Looking ahead

The prevention and punishment of genocide is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach. Some possible ways forward include:

• Strengthening legal frameworks: Countries should continue to adopt and enforce laws that criminalize genocide and related crimes. Governments should also ensure that these laws are in line with international legal standards, such as the Genocide Convention.
• Education and awareness-raising: Education and awareness-raising campaigns can help to promote tolerance and understanding between different groups and reduce the likelihood of discrimination and violence. Governments, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders should work together to promote these initiatives.
• Early warning systems: The development of early warning systems can help to detect and prevent the escalation of tensions between different groups. These systems can include the monitoring of hate speech, social media platforms, and other indicators of potential violence.
• International cooperation: International cooperation is essential in the prevention and punishment of genocide. Countries should work together to share information, resources, and expertise in order to prevent and respond to potential instances of genocide.
• Support for victims: The provision of support and reparations to victims of genocide is essential in promoting healing and reconciliation. Governments and other stakeholders should work together to provide support to victims, including access to justice, reparations, and mental health services.
• Addressing root cause: Addressing the root causes of discrimination and violence is essential in the prevention of genocide. This can include addressing poverty, inequality, and social exclusion, as well as promoting inclusive governance and democratic institutions.