Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-33

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress is an umbrella organization representing the Ukrainian Canadian community before the people and the Government of Canada. There are over one million Canadians of Ukrainian descent in Canada.

In 1998, Ukrainians in Canada and worldwide commemorated a dark period in modern history, namely the 65th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933.

In Ukraine, on November 26, 1998, President Leonid Kuchma issued a Presidential Decree stating that every fourth Saturday of November be a National Day of Remembrance for the Famine-Genocide Victims.

On January 27, 1999, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the National Famine Memorial in Kyiv in memory of the millions of victims of this mass atrocity.

In the United States, members of both Houses of Congress have passed a concurrent commemorative resolution to solemnly remember the victims of the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33 engineered by the government of the former Soviet Union (the Senate on October 21, 1998 and the House of Representatives on October 10, 1998).

The House Concurrent Resolution 295 states, inter alia, that:

"Expressing the sense of Congress that the 65th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933 should serve as a reminder of the brutality of the government of the former Soviet Union's repressive policies toward the Ukrainian people.

Whereas	this year marks the 65th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933 that caused the deaths of at least 7,000,000 Ukrainians and that was covered up and officially denied by the government of the former Soviet Union;
Whereas	millions of Ukrainians died, not by natural causes such as pestilence, drought, floods, or a poor harvest, but by policies designed to punish Ukraine for its aversion and opposition to government of the former Soviet Union's oppression and imperialism, including the forced collectivization of agriculture;
Whereas	when Ukraine was famine-stricken, the government of the former Soviet Union exported 1,700,000 tons of grain to the West while offers from international relief organizations to assist the starving population were rejected on the grounds that there was no famine in Ukraine and no need for the assistance;
Whereas	the borders of Ukraine were tightly controlled and starving Ukrainians were not allowed to cross into Russian territory in search of bread;
Whereas	in his book "The Harvest of Sorrow", British historian Robert Conquest explains, "A quarter of the rural population, men, women, and children, lay dead or dying, the rest in various stages of debilitation with no strength to bury their families or neighbors.";
Whereas	the Commission on the Ukraine Famine was established on December 13, 1985, to conduct a study with the goal of expanding the world's knowledge and understanding of the famine and to expose the government of the former Soviet Union for its atrocities in the famine;
Whereas	the Commission's report to Congress confirmed that the government of the former Soviet Union consciously employed the brutal policy of forced famine to repress the Ukrainian population and to oppress the Ukrainians' inviolable religious and political rights; and
Whereas	the Commission on the Ukrainian Famine presented 4 volumes of findings and conclusions, 10 volumes of archival material, and over 200 cassettes of testimony from famine survivors to the newly independent Government of Ukraine in 1993, during the official observances of the 60th anniversary of the Ukrainian famine in Kyiv, Ukraine: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that -

(1)	the victims of the government of the former Soviet Union-engineered Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933 be solemnly remembered on its 65th anniversary;
(2)	the Congress condemns the systematic disregard for human life, human rights, human liberty, and self-determination that characterized the repressive policies of the government of the former Soviet Union during the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933;
(3)	on the 65th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933, in contrast to the policies of the government of the former Soviet Union, Ukraine is moving toward democracy, a free-market economy, and full respect for human rights, and it is essential that the United States continue to assist Ukraine as it proceeds down this path; and
(4)	any supplemental material that will assist in the dissemination of information about the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933, and thereby help to prevent similar future tragedies, be compiled and made available worldwide for the study of the devastation of the famine."

Canada became the home for many survivors of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933 and should duly acknowledge this horrific historical period and the indescribable human suffering that occurred during that time.

Canadian Museum of Genocide

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress believes that a museum dedicated to the victims of all genocides would be a noble and dignified way for Canada to demonstrate to Canadian citizens and to the international community its readiness to condemn genocides. It would also show its concern for an equitable recognition of all victims of genocides, irrespective of where and against whom the atrocities were committed. In addition, it would sensitize future generations by disseminating valuable information about such mass atrocities to ensure that similar horrors are never repeated.

There are many monuments dedicated to various particular human tragedies in the world. In 1998, however, the City of Montreal was innovative in this field by erecting a monument called "La Réparation - Monument à la mémoire des victimes de génocides", created by Francine Larivée. This monument was dedicated to all the victims of genocides in the 20th century.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress is convinced that Canadians would support a museum along the same lines in that, as an educational tool, it would have no equal. A Canadian Museum of Genocide would also be an original and uniquely Canadian endeavour.

During the Montreal commemorations of the 65th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-33, over 700 Montrealers signed the following petition:

"The victims of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-33 deserve a place in history and in our memory. Canada became the home for many famine survivors after the Second World War, and, although this generation is passing away, their children carry the memory of their parents' nightmare. The famine victims deserve to be honoured, along with victims of other genocides, in a CANADIAN MUSEUM OF GENOCIDE.

The Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1933 must not be left out of any future Canadian museum dedicated to the victims of genocide for yet another important reason. Food is still a favorite weapon with many authoritarian regimes in the world today."

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress urges therefore the Government of Canada to establish a Canadian Museum of Genocide in Canada to honour the victims of all genocides.

Bill C-224

In the same spirit of an all-inclusive approach to commemorate all victims of genocides, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress also supports Bill C-224 which stipulates that:

"An Act to establish by the beginning of the twenty-first century an exhibit in the Canadian Museum of Civilization to recognize the crimes against humanity as defined by the United Nations that have been perpetrated during the twentieth century

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1.	This Act shall be cited as the Recognition of Crimes Against Humanity Act.

2.	(1)	The Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Civilization shall, not later than two years after this section comes into force, cause to be established in the Canadian Museum of Civilization, an exhibit that recognizes the crimes against humanity perpetrated during the twentieth century and acts as a reminder of the inhumanity of people towards one another.
	(2)	In subsection (1), the expression "crimes against humanity" means crimes against humanity as defined by the United Nations."

Musée Canadien du Génocide

Le Congrès des Ukrainiens Canadiens recommande fortement au gouvernement fédéral de créer un Musée Canadien du Génocide, consacré à la mémoire des victimes de tous les génocides.

De l'avis du Congrès des Ukrainiens Canadiens, ce musée démontrera le souci constant du Canada à condamner toute forme de génocides et commémorera équitablement toutes les victimes de telles atrocités, peu importe où et à l'égard de qui elles ont été commises, à l'instar du monument érigé par la Ville de Montréal et conçu par l'artiste Francine Larivée intitulé « La Réparation - Monument à la mémoire des victimes de génocides ».

Au surplus, un tel musée constituera un instrument important d'éducation pour les générations à venir.

Projet de loi C-224

Dans le même esprit d'une approche globale pour commémorer toutes les victimes de génocides, le Congrès des Ukrainiens Canadiens appuie également le Projet de loi C-224 qui stipule que :

« Loi établissant d'ici le début du vingt et unième siècle une exposition au Musée canadien des civilisations pour reconnaître les crimes contre l'humanité, tel que l'expression est définie par les Nations Unies, qui ont été perpétrés au cours du vingtième siècle

Sa Majesté, sur l'avis et avec le consentement du Sénat et de la Chambre des communes du Canada, édicte :

1.	Loi sur la reconnaissance des crimes contre l'humanité.

2.	(1)	Le conseil d'administration du Musée canadien des civilisations veille, au plus tard deux ans après l'entrée en vigueur du présent article, à ce que soit établie au Musée canadien des civilisations une exposition qui reconnaisse les crimes contre l'humanité perpétrés au cours du vingtième siècle et qui fasse en sorte que l'on se souvienne de la cruauté des peuples les uns envers les autres.
	(2)	Dans le paragraphe (1), l'expression « crimes contre l'humanité » s'entend des crimes contre l'humanité, tel que cette expression est définie par les Nations Unies. »

November 2nd, 1999