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BRISBANE: The Australian Labor Party’s (ALP) National Labor Women’s Conference resolved to "recognise the genocides of the Armenians, Hellenes and Assyrians from 1915 to 1923 as one of the greatest crimes against humanity" in a landmark resolution adopted in Brisbane, Queensland.

In line with the conference theme ‘Labor Women: Lead, Challenge, Inspire’, delegates from ALP branches all over the country also recognised the fact that the genocides of the Armenians, Hellenes and Assyrians are an integral part of the Australian story, where Australian women led, challenged and inspired others to provide aid to the survivors of these genocides.

Conference delegate Sofia Kotanidis, who introduced the resolution, said: “Recognition and education are also the best means to cultivate understanding, of the past and of the present. Understanding prevents the development of the hatred that leads to genocide.”

“Only by learning about the crimes of the past can we avoid repeating them. This is why the Jewish Holocaust, the Australian Aboriginal experience and other genocides are part of the Australian secondary and tertiary education system.”

ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian immediately welcomed the passing of the motion.

He said: “Australian women were at the forefront of efforts to raise funds and provide aid for genocide survivors and so it is fitting that the National Women’s Labor Conference has now become the driving force for recognition of the Armenian, Hellenic and Assyrian Genocides.”

“The decision of the National Women’s Labor Conference to recognise the Armenian, Hellenic and Assyrian Genocides, paves the way for the ALP to adopt the resolution as party policy.”


TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION

That this conference recognise the genocides of the Armenians, Hellenes and Assyrians from 1915 to 1923 is one of the greatest crimes against humanity, and:
 
(a) joins the Australian Armenian, Australian Hellenic and Australian Assyrian communities in honouring the memory of the innocent men, women and children who fell victim to the first modern genocide;
 
(b) condemns the genocides of the Armenians, Hellenes and Assyrians, and all other acts of genocide as the ultimate act of intolerance;
 
(c) recognises the importance of remembering and learning from such dark chapters in human history to ensure that such crimes against humanity are not allowed to be repeated;
 
(d) condemns and prevents all attempts to use the passage of time to deny or distort the historical truth of the genocides of the Armenians, Hellenes and Assyrians, and other acts of genocide;
 
(e) recalls the testimonies of ANZAC prisoners-of-war and other servicemen who were witness to the genocides of the Armenians, Hellenes and Assyrians;
 
(f) recalls the testimonies of ANZAC servicemen who rescued Armenian, Hellene and Assyrian genocide survivors;
 
(g) acknowledges the significant humanitarian relief contribution made by the people of Australia to the victims and survivors of the Armenian, Hellene and Assyrian Genocides.