CANBERRA: The Federal Member for North Sydney and Chair of the Armenia-Australia Inter-Parliamentary Union, Trent Zimmerman has called on the Australian government to recognise the Armenian Genocide, while speaking in support of a motion recognising the Yazidi Genocide in Australia's House of Representatives last week.
Zimmerman said: "
Can I say that I think it is important that this parliament recognises genocides such as those that the Yazidi have suffered. It's an important message to the world community that the international legal and global order will not ever tolerate these types of actions.
He added: "I look forward to the day when this parliament can consider a similar motion in relation to that long and deeply felt genocide that was perpetrated against the Armenians a hundred years ago."
The motion, which was moved by the Member Dunkley, Chris Crewther, calls on recognising the Yazidi Genocide, and had wide support from all speakers on 26th February, 2018. Speakers included Crewther, Zimmerman, Anne Aly, Mike Kelly and Gai Brodtmann. It condemns the genocide perpetrated against the Yazidis by ISIL.
The motion is scheduled to resume debate and possible resolution at a future sitting.
The Armenian National Committee of Austrlia's (ANC-AU) Executive Director, Haig Kayserian welcomed the motion recognising the Yazidi Genocide.
"Armenian-Australians are proud that our Parliament is taking an active role calling out genocides, as they occur," Kayserian said. "It is through such assertive and absolute recognition and condemnation that society has its best chance of stamping out such crimes against humanity."
Kayserian praised Zimmerman's leadership on calling for a "similar motion" regarding the Armenian Genocide.
"Mr. Zimmerman has proven again that he is steadfast in his support for justice for the Armenian Genocide," he said. "We look forward to working with the Member for North Sydney and his colleagues on ensuring Australia joins the growing ranks of righteous nations which have recognised the Armenian Genocide."
The motion on the Yazidi Genocide reads as follows:
That this House:(1) notes that:
(a) genocide is a crime under international law, which has been enacted into Australian law through Division 268 of the Australian Criminal Code; and
(b) the Iraqi Council of Ministers, United Nations institutions, and many parliaments have recognised that ISIL's crimes against the Yazidis constitute genocide;
(2) welcomes the Government's decisive action in resettling Yazidi refugees;
(3) condemns the genocide perpetrated against Yazidis by ISIL;
(4) calls for continued support for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIL and efforts to liberate Yazidis in ISIL captivity;
(5) recognises the importance of justice for Yazidi victims and survivors of ISIL and calls on the Government to continue to support accountability for the perpetrators of serious international crimes against the Yazidis, including, where appropriate, in Australian courts and in other jurisdictions, where these are consistent with international standards;
(6) calls on the Government to continue supporting the formation of an Investigative Team pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2379 (2017) and, once established, to support it in the collection, preservation and storage of evidence of acts that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide; and
(7) supports the:
(a) continued efforts to defeat ISIL militarily and ideologically via de- radicalisation and countering violent extremism programs;
(b) continued consideration of the plight of the Yazidis in the development of Australian humanitarian policies and programs;
(c) continued provision of psychological and other social support services for Yazidi refugees living in Australia;
(d) right of the Yazidis and all minorities to live in peace, safety and freedom in Syria and Iraq and to participate in relevant political processes; and
(e) protection of Yazidis, Christians and other minorities in Iraq, under United Nations supervision and in cooperation with relevant authorities and minorities.
