2023 Year in Review
The Lemkin Institute looks back at genocide and prevention in 2023 with 32 news synopses written from a genocide prevention perspective.
2023 was a watershed year in the history of genocide. During 2023 we saw the Western powers act in complicity with two cases of genocide -- against Armenians in the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and against Palestinians in Gaza (Palestine). All three major powers in the world, Russia, China, and the United States, were either actively committing or acting in complicity with genocide. Furthermore, Russia's genocide in Ukraine continued and genocide in Darfur began anew.
The Lemkin Institute seeks to address the threat of genocide all over the world by promoting human rights and engaging in prevention with people from all walks of life.
The Lemkin Institute's 2023 Year in Review report covers the following issues:
-The threat of genocide in Afghanistan faced by the Hazara Shia community and LGBTQ+ people, as well as gender apartheid affecting women and girls.
-Ongoing anti-Roma sentiment in Europe and efforts to address it.
-The growing global threat to trans people.
-Azerbaijan's genocide of Artsakh Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh.
-Skyrocketing attacks on journalists in war zones.
-Azerbaijan's impunity as a genocidal Armenophobic state.
-Despair and violence in Rohingya camps in Bangladesh.
-Rising inter communal violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
-The ongoing humanitarian catastrophe caused by war and atrocity in Ethiopia, especially the possible genocides being faced by Tigrayans and Amharans.
-Femicide worldwide and efforts to combat it.
-Mounting Islamophobia in India and red flags for genocide among Hindu nationalist authorities.
-Iran's crackdown on the arrested members of the protest movement, the state's growing use of the death penalty, and worldwide acknowledgement of the courage of Iranian dissidents.
-The ongoing struggle of minorities in Iraq to overcome ISIS genocides, find justice, and return to their ancestral lands.
-Threats to democracy within Israel and the impact of Hamas' deadly October 7 attack.
-Ongoing genocidal violence against Palestinians.
-Genocidal dynamics faced by the Karakalpak people in the state of Uzbekistan.
-Europe's continued embrace of an increasingly dehumanizing, punitive, and deadly migration policy.
-Efforts by the opposition in Myanmar to oust the Tatmadaw from power as well as developments in the ongoing genocide of the Rohingya.
-Anti-Christian violence in Nigeria.
-Violence in Somaliland caused by violent attempts by Somalia to reclaim the semi-independent state.
-The tragedy of genocide in Ukraine and threats to military aid.
-The escalation of anti-trans legislation in the USA and the growth of a global culture of hate for trans life.
-Legal threats to the Indian Child Welfare Act in the USA, which since 1978 has sought to reduce the harm of boarding schools and family separation.
-Ongoing threats to indigenous life in Brazil.
-The strengthening of the far-right movements and parties in Germany, the United Kingdom, Hungary, and the United States.
-Re-ignition of genocidal violence in Darfur.
-Ongoing state sanctioned violence by the al-Assad regime, the genocidal attacks on Jurds in northern Syria by Türkiye, and the struggles among Syrians following a natural disaster.
-Threats to free speech surrounding vocal support of Palestinians across western states.
-The rapid backslide in authoritarianism in Tunisia and the blatant anti-black violence directed towards Sub-Saharan migrants.
-Complicity of the Biden Administration in supporting genocide across the world and the rollback of protections of civil liberties across the United States.
-Ongoing persecution and genocide of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China.
-Continued human rights abuses in Uzbekistan and the growing threat of genocide against ethnic minorities in Uzbekistan.
-The complicity of weapons manufacturers in arming genocidal states and génocidaires.
-The international community’s contributions to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
-The impact of Israel’s genocidal attacks on Occupied Palestine in advancing conflict throughout the Middle East.