Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month

Content Warning: The following post contains references to events and stories that may be traumatizing to some audiences.

I want young people to remember that the Holocaust didn’t happen in a vacuum. There was a basis for its start, for its continuation, for its execution. I want them to be politically aware that their government should never preach hate. I want them to understand how damaging hate is to people.

Elly Gotz, Holocaust survivor

Seven years ago, House of Commons unanimously passed the Motion M-587, which designated April as Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month. The motion commemorates genocides currently recognized by Canada: the Holocaust, the Ukrainian Holodomor, the Genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda, and the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Parliament has also recognized the Bosnian Genocide and the ongoing genocides of the Yezidi people of Syria and Iraq, the genocide of the Rohingya people in Myanmar and the ongoing genocide of the Uyghur people in China. In 2020 the Canadian government passed a motion to officially recognize the Romani Genocide during WWII and make August 2nd an official day of commemoration (Ukrainian Canadian Congress).

In the words of the former Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Youth of Canada, Bardish Chagger, “It is our collective responsibility to honour and give voice to the victims and survivors of genocide by learning about these horrific events and ensuring we preserve the truth of this history. As we continue to build an even better and consciously more inclusive country, we must all stand up against prejudice, hate as well as all forms of racism and discrimination, which can lead to such tragic consequences. We must also commit to protecting the human rights and dignity of everyone in Canada and around the world” (Statement by Minister Chagger on Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month).

April 2022 Events

International Day of Reflection on Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda (April 7)
Commemoration of the Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day (April 28)
Holodomor Remembrance Day in Schools (April 16)
Commemoration of the Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide (April 24)

UBC Library Resources

For those interested in learning more about past events and reading the stories of survivors, UBC libraries offer numerous resources. The selection below is a good starting point.

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