Ihor Michalchyshyn, UCC CEO today issued the following statement:

“Today, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) joins the Armenian community in Canada and around the world to honour the memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide of 1915, a dark chapter in human history which must never be forgotten.

“The UCC is proud to work with the Armenian National Committee of Canada as part of a coalition, which in 2015 worked to build support from all major parties in the House of Commons to designate April as Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month. The motion commemorates genocide recognized by Canada: the Holocaust, the Ukrainian Holodomor, the Rwandan Tutsi Genocide, and the Armenian Genocide of 1915.”

“Today, as we strengthen our commitment to ensuring that crimes such as the Holodomor and the Armenian Genocide never happen again, we know that Ukraine’s independence is once again under threat from Russia’s war of aggression.  Ongoing severe human rights violations by Russian security forces, especially on the Crimean Tatar people living in occupied Crimea, underscore the need to continue to speak out on human rights and freedoms.”

“The Ukrainian Canadian community continues to work to educate and build awareness of the Holodomor and other Genocides to pay tribute to the memory of the millions of innocent victims. We honour the survivors, whose courage in sharing their story has educated the world about these Genocides.”