Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute

Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute is a research and memorial center dedicated to the study, documentation, and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The museum-institute is located in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, and is situated next to the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex, which honors the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The institute is affiliated with the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and collaborates with other institutions, such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Institute for the Study of Genocide. The museum-institute also works closely with Armenian diaspora organizations, including the Armenian General Benevolent Union and the Armenian Relief Society.

● History

The concept of establishing a museum-institute to commemorate the Armenian Genocide dates back to the 1980s, when Hai Tahd, a Armenian national movement, began to advocate for the recognition of the genocide by the international community. The idea gained momentum in the 1990s, with the support of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the first president of Armenia, and Raffi Hovannisian, a prominent Armenian-American politician. The museum-institute was eventually established in 1995, with the help of Vazgen Sargsyan, the then-Minister of Defense of Armenia, and Serge Sargsyan, the current President of Armenia. The institute has since collaborated with other organizations, including the Zoryan Institute, the Armenian National Institute, and the Genocide Education Project.

● Establishment and Mission

The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute was officially established on April 24, 1995, with the aim of promoting awareness and understanding of the Armenian Genocide and its consequences. The institute's mission is to conduct research, collect and preserve documents and artifacts, and provide education and training on the subject of genocide, in collaboration with institutions such as the Yale University's Genocide Studies Program and the University of California, Los Angeles's Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights. The museum-institute is also committed to promoting human rights and democracy, and to supporting the development of civil society in Armenia and beyond, through partnerships with organizations like the European Union and the Council of Europe. The institute's work is guided by the principles of Raphael Lemkin, a Polish-Jewish lawyer who coined the term genocide, and William Saroyan, an Armenian-American writer who wrote extensively on the Armenian Genocide.

● Collections and Exhibitions

The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute has a vast collection of documents, photographs, and artifacts related to the Armenian Genocide, including materials from the Nuremberg trials and the United Nations War Crimes Commission. The institute's exhibitions feature personal stories of survivors, such as Aurora Mardiganian and Arshaluys Martikyan, as well as historical accounts of the genocide, including the Deportation of Armenians from Trebizond and the Massacre of Armenians in Baku. The museum-institute also hosts temporary exhibitions, such as the one dedicated to the Armenian Genocide and the Syrian Civil War, and collaborates with other museums, including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The institute's collections and exhibitions are also informed by the work of scholars like Vahakn Dadrian and Taner Akçam, who have written extensively on the Armenian Genocide.

● Research and Education

The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute is a leading center for research on the Armenian Genocide and its consequences, and has published numerous books and articles on the subject, including works by Richard Hovannisian and Rouben Paul Adalian. The institute offers educational programs and training for students, scholars, and professionals, in collaboration with institutions such as the University of Oxford's Centre for International Studies and the University of California, Berkeley's Institute of International Studies. The museum-institute also organizes conferences and seminars, such as the annual International Conference on the Armenian Genocide, which brings together scholars and experts from around the world, including Israel Charny and Gregory Stanton. The institute's research and education programs are guided by the principles of Elie Wiesel, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who has written extensively on the Holocaust and genocide.

● Memorial Complex

The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute is situated within the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex, which was designed by architects Sarkis Gurzadyan and Artur Tarkhanyan. The complex features a memorial wall, a museum, and a monument to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, as well as a chapel and a memorial garden. The memorial complex is a place of pilgrimage for Armenians from around the world, including Armenian diaspora communities in United States, France, and Argentina. The complex is also visited by dignitaries and officials, including Pope Francis, who visited the complex in 2015, and Barack Obama, who has recognized the Armenian Genocide as a genocide. The memorial complex is a symbol of Armenia's commitment to promoting human rights and democracy, and to supporting the development of civil society in Armenia and beyond, through partnerships with organizations like the European Union and the Council of Europe. Category:Genocide museums