On Monday 29th November 2021, the Federal Parliament's House of Representatives will debate a Motion calling on the Australian Government to recognize the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek Genocides, reports the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).

The Motion, which is being moved by Trent Zimmerman (MP for North Sydney) proposes that the Australian government uphold its commitment to the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide by recognizing "the genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923 of Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks and other Christian minorities...".

Related: The Assyrian Genocide

"It matters because obviously genocides and genocidal intent continues into today," ANC-AU Executive Director Haig Kayserian said.

This motion comes 22 months following the launch of the Joint Justice Initiative which featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), Assyrian National Council -- Australia (ANC) and Australian Hellenic Council (AHC), which declares Australia's recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides as a priority on behalf of their communities.

Since then, over 40 Federal parliamentarians have joined the Joint Justice Initiative pledging to support calls for national recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides.

"We have long known that the Australian people stand for recognition and justice for the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides, and it is our expectation that their elected officials in Canberra will use this motion to collectively call on the Federal government to stand on the right of history," said Haig Kayserian.