Washington hosts conference on violence against minorities

PanARMENIAN.Net - George Washington University Law School and the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) collaborated in organizing an international conference entitled, “State Oppression, Violence against Minorities, and the Possibilities for Remedial Secession and Independence” on April 7 and 8.

Roger W. Smith, Chair of the Institute, in his submitted opening remarks said: Today, we read headlines from all over the world regarding struggles for self-determination, gross human rights violations and the ensuing violence. We ask ourselves why such violence takes place with such intensity and impunity. In some cases, we see this violence has reached such catastrophic magnitudes that it threatens world peace and order. The sometimes irreconcilability of the principles of self-determination and territorial integrity have led to a complex web of challenges for the international community in places such as Kosovo, Bosnia, Transnistria, autonomous regions of the former Soviet Union, etc. Headlines, such as "The current crisis in Ukraine threatens global security and at worst has the potential for nuclear catastrophe" point to the dangers related to the denial of human rights, the demands for self-determination and the assertion for territorial integrity.”

Held over two days in Washington DC, speakers included nearly 20 renowned scholars, international lawyers and human rights activists. Susan L. Karamanian, GW Law's Associate Dean for International and Comparative Legal Studies and Burnett Family Professorial Lecturer in International and Comparative Law and Policy, was instrumental in bringing together specialists for an in-depth discussion and analysis.

Professor Karamanian remarked: “The conference examined the tension between the concept of remedial secession and well-established international legal principles, such as sovereignty and territorial integrity. One theme that seemed to permeate most of the sessions is that engagement with international institutions and key political actors can be instrumental to the protection of the rights of minorities, although such engagement may not be mandated by international law.”

The keynote Susan N. and Augustus DiZeriga Lecture was delivered by Professor Dapo Akande of the University of Oxford, who addressed the question whether the use of force is allowed by international law in support of self-determination movements.

Greg Sarkissian, President of the Zoryan Institute said, “This complex issue holds clear implications for the conflict over Karabakh, and others in the Caucasus, and it is important to continue to present and explore those realities in international legal and scholarly circles. These topics should also be explored by parties in the conflict as a way to avoid further human rights abuses.”