Raising Awareness Through Education to Defend Truth, Justice and Human Rights

Toronto, December 9, 2022: This week, as we celebrate the anniversaries of the signing of the Genocide Convention (December 9, 1948) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (December 10, 1948), individuals and organizations around the globe reaffirm their commitments to protecting human rights, and the words “never again” when it comes to genocide.

Since 1984, the Zoryan Institute and its division, the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, have been committed to building a community of informed Canadian citizens dedicated to respecting diversity and protecting human rights and dignity through education and scholarly activities in the fields of Genocide and Human Rights Studies. Recognizing the phenomenon of genocide as a universal human experience, the Institute undertakes its activities with a comparative and multidisciplinary approach.

Today, in the face of rising inequality, violent extremism, and growing conflicts and tensions around the globe, the delivery of education programs promoting equity, inclusion, anti-hate, nondiscrimination, and social justice are of critical importance. As schools across Ontario explore new strategies to incorporate this type of programming, the Zoryan Institute is at the forefront, delivering interactive presentations on human rights and genocide to high school audiences. For the past 20 years, the Zoryan Institute has also brought together the next generation of human rights and genocide specialists from around the globe to study in Canada at the University of Toronto through its Genocide and Human Rights University Program. These educational programs are in addition to the development of an innovative online database of resources and accessible virtual learning opportunities pertaining to these issues, the publication of the Institute’s peer-reviewed academic journal published by the University of Toronto Press, Genocide Studies International, and the launch of teacher training programs that equip teachers with the knowledge, tools, and techniques required to create learning spaces that respond to the unique human rights challenges of today’s youth in a multicultural nation like Canada.

The Zoryan Institute is also a leading institute in fostering dialogue around issues that explore identity, home and belonging in order to challenge prejudice, discrimination and stereotypes and promote an inclusive and multicultural Canada. This is done through its globally recognized podcast, Dispersion, and its a ward- winning a c a demic journal, Diaspora: A Journal of Transnational Studies, founded in 1991 and published by the University of Toronto Press.

DELIVERING EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROMOTING EQUITY, INCLUSION, ANTI-HATE, NONDISCRIMINATION, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

As an organization dedicated to raising awareness about issues pertaining to genocide and gross violations of human rights, the Institute has also undertaken multiple post-conflict research initiatives and has hosted numerous international academic conferences in partnership with post-secondary institutions and humanitarian organizations across Canada and the globe.

On this International Day of the Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime and Human Rights Day, we ask you to not only commemorate t hese days but t o convert your recognition into action by generously supporting the Zoryan Institute in its work to continue raising awareness about these issues, and fighting future injustices and atrocities through educational and s cholarly activities. Educating our youth is critical to promoting tolerance, equity, and reconciliation and making the words “never again” a reality.

BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF INFORMED CANADIAN CITIZENS DEDICATED TO RESPECTING DIVERSITY, AND PROMOTING AND PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY.

Learn how you can make a difference: zoryaninstitute.org.