This year’s Genocide Memorial Day will home in on the rise of fascism and the scapegoating of minorities.

In line with the aim of the annual event which aims to raise awareness of genocide in order for new generations to understand the causes and recognise the warning signs of such atrocities, this year’s theme is the demonisation and otherisation of minorities.

The march of f ascism, disguised as nationalism, continues apace through much of the world, bringing with it the spectre of new genocides. Just as in the 1920’s and 1930s when the world witnessed the rise of the Nazis scapegoating and demonising minorities, which led to the Holocaust, the language of hate and otherisation is once again dominating political discourse. Pogroms in Bosnia, Rwanda and Myanmar in recent times are testament to the destructive potential of majoritarian fascism. In India, sections of an increasingly assertive Hindu nationalist movement are openly preaching genocide of the country’s 200 million Muslims. In the Holy Land, the ascent to power of far-right parties speaks to the radicalisation of the country’s Zionist population. In both places, Islamophobia is the main tool being used to poison the minds of the public.

GMD takes place on the third Sunday of January each year. It was started by IHRC in 2010 to commemorate past and ongoing genocides, and to raise awareness around genocide prevention. Since then events have taken place all over the world. The act of remembrance is not limited by the background of either the victims or the perpetrators of any of the genocides.

A renowned panel of speakers will feature in the online event to be held on Sunday 15th January from 1-4pm GMT (streamed live on www.IHCR.tv) They include:

Ramón Grosfoguel, Professor of Chicano/Latino Studies in the Department of Ethnic Studies at University of California, Berkeley.
Professor Richard Falk, a former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, serving in the role from March 2008 until May 2014.
Prof Ghada Karmi, Honorary Research Fellow and Assistant Lecturer at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter, UK; author and leading commentator on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

For more information or comment please contact IHRC media on 0208 904 4222 (option 6) or media@ihrc.org [ENDS]