The regulation is conditioned by the necessity of commemorating the genocide against the Yazidi nation, honoring the memory of the innocent victims, and increasing the awareness of the human disaster by a wide range of society. The Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Rustam Bakoyan said this.
In the extraordinary sitting of April 15, the Committee debated the draft law on Making Addendum to the Law on Holidays and Memorial Days of the Republic of Armenia in the first reading.
“Recently, the process of recognizing the genocide committed against the Yazidi people has gained new strength. In 2023, the Bundestag of the German Federation joined this initiative and, for the sake of restoration of historical justice, recognized and condemned the 2014 Sinjar Yezidi genocide,” Rustam Bakoyan informed. The deputy noted that on August 1, 2023, Great Britain recognized the genocide committed against the Yazidis by the ‘Islamic State’ terrorist group. The decision of Great Britain followed the decision of the German Federal Court of Justice, which found the former fighter of the ‘Islamic State’ guilty of genocide and war crimes.
Rustam Bakoyan mentioned that it is proposed to supplement the law with a new article, according to which August 3 will be marked as a day of remembrance for the victims of the 2014 Sinjar Yazidi genocide.
The co-rapporteur, the deputy of the NA Civil Contract Faction Artur Hovhannisyan pointed out that the Armenian people should have their own place in the world in terms of genocide prevention. He called his colleagues to vote for the draft law.
The RA Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Paruyr Hovhannisyan noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the initiative.
The Committee endorsed the draft law.