Statements

Letter to the American People

March 27, 2025

Many of you have reached out to the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security to ask what you can do in the face of what appears to be an authoritarian coup against the US Constitutional order, driven and overseen by a President and a billionaire who gave the Nazi salute at the President’s inauguration, and deeply infected by the genocidal thinking of many conservatives and evangelicals, targeted mainly at immigrants of color and trans people (for the time being).

We have watched these developments with dismay, and like many of you, we’ve had some dark days. The disturbing political developments have impacted our US-based team members in different ways depending on where they exist within the dynamics of oppression. So, we have been trying to figure out the same things as everyone else. We are with you.

We want to share what we have learned from our experiences studying, researching, and writing about genocide and working in genocide prevention. We offer the points below in the hope that they will generate discussion, direction, and action.

Statement on the Fall of Bashar al-Assad’s Regime in Syria

March 11, 2025

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security stands in solidarity with the Syrian people as they mark the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a brutal chapter in Syria’s history characterized by relentless human rights violations and profound suffering.

We are, however, deeply concerned about the roles of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) in the post-Assad period. Both groups have histories of human rights abuses and ideologies that conflict with the democratic aspirations of many Syrians. With US support, Turkey has actively been pursuing genocidal expansion in northern Syria since 2019.

As Syria transitions, addressing the humanitarian crisis must be a top priority. Decades of war have devastated infrastructure, displaced millions, and created generational trauma. International aid must focus on rebuilding essential services, supporting displaced communities, and fostering conditions that allow refugees to return voluntarily, safely, and with dignity.

The international community must also provide substantial support to grassroots Syrian organizations that have been the backbone of resistance and resilience throughout the conflict. These groups, including women’s organizations, youth movements, and local councils, are essential to building a democratic and inclusive Syria.

Statement on the Oval Office Meeting between US President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Ukrainian President Zelensky

March 7, 2025

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security protests the shameful treatment of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to the White House on 28 February 2025. We wish to underscore the outrageous behavior of US Vice President J. D. Vance. Vance’s behavior was petulant, childish, and in jaw-dropping violation of diplomatic protocol. It was particularly offensive given the genocidal threat Russia poses to Ukraine. By publicly dressing down the Ukrainian president and personalizing a high-stakes press conference that – until Vance’s interjections – was going remarkably well, Vice President Vance did a terrible disservice to President Trump, US national security, and the American people. The Trump Administration may feel it is being effective by humiliating state guests and the victims of genocide, but it should consider the long-term impact to the US reputation abroad – among traditional allies, important trade partners, emerging powerhouses, and great power competitors like Russia – of this sort of approach. Statesmanly behavior can serve the same purposes as vulgar bullying, but it also garners respect and good will in the process.

Statement on the Continued Denialist Rhetoric of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

January 30, 2025

At the risk of being accused of being a “Dashnak” organization, taking Russian money, and circulating “fake news” by some Armenians, including notably the Zoryan Institute, which demanded last year that we apologize to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan after suggesting that he was engaging in cryptic genocide denial, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security once again calls attention to Prime Minister Pashinyan’s recent statements on the Armenian Genocide, which further echo Turkish denialist narratives. His senseless statements ignore the decades of historical research on the Armenian Genocide conducted by Turkish, German, British, American, and Armenian scholars, among others, stand in the way of the ongoing struggle for justice for the victims of the Armenian Genocide, and create a dangerous geopolitical dynamic, especially in the context of Azerbaijan’s recent genocide of Artsakh Armenians and its ongoing threats to the Republic of Armenia.

Statement on the Fall of Bashar al-Assad’s Regime in Syria

January 21, 2025

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security stands in solidarity with the Syrian people as they mark the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a brutal chapter in Syria’s history characterized by relentless human rights violations and profound suffering.

Statement on the Recent Pakistani Airstrike in Afghanistan

January 20, 2025

The Lemkin Institute expresses its profound concern and condemnation regarding the recent airstrikes undertaken by Pakistan in Afghanistan's Paktika province. The December 25 strikes, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 46 individuals, including women and children, constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian and human rights law.

Statement Opposing Genocidal Anti-Trans Bills in Alberta, Canada

December 3, 2024

The Albertan United Conservative Party (UCP) Government in Canada introduced three bills directly targeting transgender youth in Alberta’s legislature on 31 October 2024. The Lemkin Institute condemns these bills as genocidal in nature and supports the legal challenges already planned by Egale and Skipping Stone Foundation, two Canadian organizations which advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ rights and freedoms. The Assembly of First Nations 2SLGBTQQIA+ Council has also released a statement opposing the bills. Alberta’s proposed legislation is a threat to the identities, lives, and wellbeing of all trans individuals living within Alberta, especially young ones. 

Statement on US President Joe Biden’s Apology for Native American Boarding Schools and Its Implications for the World At Large

November 25 2024

As Americans sit down to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security reflects upon the larger history of this holiday. We commend US President Joe Biden’s recent formal apology to Native American communities for the traumatic boarding schools that were part of official US policy for over 150 years. “The federal government has never, never formally apologized for what happened, until today,” Biden said in a speech on October 26 at the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona. “I formally apologize as President of the United States of America for what we did. I formally apologize.”

1000 Days of Resilience: Reflecting on the War in Ukraine

November 19, 2024

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security mourns the Ukrainian and Russian lives lost in this terrible war and genocide and stands in firm solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their efforts to protect their identity from erasure. 1000 days are 1000 too many.

A Note on Recent Criticism of the Lemkin Institute

November 16, 2024

2024 has been a difficult year for genocide prevention, and as the work of The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security (LIGPHS) has gained greater prominence, we must address several recent attacks on the character of our work and staff. Our mission is clear and we hope to clarify charges from Azeri media and from two bloggers for pro-Israel outlets, who accuse us of “besmirching” Raphael Lemkin’s name. We have always sought, and continue to welcome, further communication with any and all members of the Lemkin family. While we may disagree, we remain steadfast in our mission and in our support of Raphael Lemkin’s legacy.

Statement on Genocide and the US Presidential Election

November 4, 2024

Citizens in the USA will be heading out to their polling places tomorrow to cast their in-person votes for US president. While many issues are of concern for American voters, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security wishes to take note of the dispiriting promotion of genocide that has characterized this year’s presidential campaigns. The American people are faced with two main parties that have endorsed genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh and Israel, and one — the Republican Party — that has used genocidal language towards specific populations throughout the campaign.

Condemnation of Ecocide and Cultural Genocide in Palestine

November 3, 2024

Joint Statement from Doctors Against Genocide and the Lemkin Institute

The olive harvest is one of the most important times of the year for Palestinians, representing sustenance, tradition, resilience, and cultural identity. Recently, we continue to receive heartbreaking reports from West Bank villages of olive trees destroyed and harvests stolen, impacting entire communities. Alongside these acts, there have been incidents where those lovingly gathering olives were detained or obstructed.
For generations, olive trees have provided Palestinian families with food, income, and a deep connection to their land. Destroying these trees is not merely an attack on property—it is an assault on life, culture, and heritage. The systematic targeting of olive trees and land constitutes ecocide and cultural genocide: an intentional effort to erase the natural resources, heritage, and identity of a people.