Genocide Prevention 25
A Genocide Remembrance, Prevention and Condemnation Event
March 30th 2025- April 30th 2025
In a world where the scars of past genocides remain and new threats grow, we, the Alliance of Genocide Victim Communities, stand together for justice, remembrance, and prevention. The "Genocide Prevention 25" event is a powerful call to action—to face the impact of genocide here in Canada and work toward a future without it. #GenocidePrevention
L'Alliance des communautés de victims de génocide (AGVC) se consacre à la'prévention et à l'éradication des génocides par le biais d'une approche à multiples facettes comprenant la sensibilisation, le militantisme, la justice et la responsabilité, l'éducation, ainsi que la collecte de preuves et la documentation. Nous envisageons un monde où le génocide n'est plus une menace et où tous les peuples peuvent vivre dans la paix, la dignité et la liberté.
Sunday, March 30th 2025
9 AM - 5 PM
3rd floor, Fauteux Hall
Room Number FTX302
57 Louis-Pasteur Private
University of Ottawa
AGENDA
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Doors open
Coffee and refreshments
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM - Session 1
9:30- 9:35 | Welcome and logistical announcements | Master of Ceremonies, Makeda Leul
9:35 - 9:40 | Opening remarks | Joanne Hodges, Alliance of Genocide Victim Communities Facilitator and Board Member.
9:40 - 9:50 | “Trauma, Resilience, and Healing: A Brief Message to Attendees” | Appoline Nimbeshaho, Trauma Therapist & Genocide Survivor, Founder of Tranquil Minds Psychotherapy and Beyond The Veil.
9:50 AM - 10:20 AM | Keynote Speaker: Dr. Gregory Stanton, Founder and President of Genocide Watch
10:20 AM - 10:50 AM | Keynote Address: “Some Reflections on the Imperative of Actually Preventing Genocide (And How to Do It)” | Professor John Packer, Director of the Human Rights Research and Education Centre, University of Ottawa
10:50 AM - 11:00 AM | Q & A
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM | Coffee Break
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM - Session 2
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM | David Matas, international human rights lawyer, co-founder and chair of Human Rights Action Group
11:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Sarah Teich, international human rights lawyer, co-founder and CEO of Human Rights Action Group
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Community Overviews of Genocide
In this session, we will briefly explore genocide through the experience of the Uyghur, Tutsi, Tamil, Tigrayan, Tibetan, and Hazara communities. During each 5-minute segment, we will delve into key statistics, the years these tragic events occurred, and identify the primary actors involved in these atrocities.
12:15 PM - 12:30 PM | First-hand survivor testimony.
Pascal Kenyemara
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | Lunch in the Atrium and Exhibit Engagement: Forced Labour Challenge, Misinformation Toolkit, Tigray VR experience, Wall of Remembrance, Words of Hope, Art Exhibit on the 5th floor.)
1:30 PM - 3:10 PM - Session 3
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | “Hot off the Press, Community News Roundup: Insights from Six Communities” | 6 community representatives have 10-minute segments.
From transnational repression, deportations, and surveillance to restrictions on humanitarian aid, mishandled withdrawal plans in Afghanistan, and ongoing atrocities against Hazaras, as well as escalating tensions in Ethiopia, the ongoing conflict in Congo, inadequate refugee resettlement initiatives, and the targeted sanctioning of Canadian activists—this session explores community perspectives on these urgent and newsworthy issues.
2:30 PM - 3:05 PM | Panel discussion | “Safeguarding Humanity: Strategies for Genocide Prevention, Pathways to Accountability and Canada’s Role.” 6 community representatives.
In this session, our six community representatives will propose strategies for the government of Canada to improve justice and accountability and will also discuss ways in which fellow Canadians can contribute to these efforts.
3:05 PM - 3:10 PM | Q&A for all speakers
3:10 PM - 3:20 PM Last break
3:20 PM - 4:30 PM - Session 4
3:20: - 3:35 PM | “Pathway to Recognition in Canada” | Mehmet Tohti, Uyghur Genocide. John Packer, Rohingya Genocide.
Individuals who have championed motions for genocide recognition in Canada will tell stories of how they achieved this accomplishment.
3:35 - 4:05 PM | Panel Discussion | Aftermath of Genocide and Its Community Impacts - Echoes of Resilient Spirits.
6 community representatives
Discussions will focus on the lingering impact of genocide on communities. Representatives will exchange observations, reports and ideas, highlight healing initiatives and any efforts to combat discrimination and promote understanding, tolerance, and acceptance among their diverse communities.
4:05 PM - 4:15 PM | Q&A for all speakers
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM | Keynote Address: The Honourable Irwin Cotler, P.C., O.C., Former Minister of Justice & Attorney General of Canada. Founder and International chair of Raoul Wallenberg Centre.
4:45 PM - 4:30 PM | Closing Remarks & Manifesto | Kayum Masimov, Alliance of Genocide Victim Communities Board Member.
4:35 PM - 5:00 PM | Networking Session
Head up to the Art Exhibit on the 5th floor to hear directly from community artists whose art is on display.
Individuals who have presented at the conference will be assigned a designated table where conference attendees are encouraged to engage in further dialogue with the presenters, pick up additional literature at the Action Table and participate in community acts, including signing petitions, subscribing to newsletters, and engaging in social media amplification strategies.
* A mental health professional will be readily accessible throughout the conference to assist anyone needing support or guidance. Please look for her table in the atrium. A designated quiet room has been made available.
Interactive Exhibits
Misinformation Toolkit
In a world where misinformation and digital manipulation are widespread, our free portable “Truth Tracker Toolkit for Countering Misinformation” provides essential resources to help you separate fact from fiction, think critically, and protect yourself from deceptive tactics.
Forced Labour Challenge: Uyghur Genocide
This hands-on activity unravels the hidden truths of global supply chains. Explore the unsettling reality of forced labor within the Uyghur genocide and how these products end up in Canada.
Remember Tigray: A Virtual Reality Experience
Between 2020 and 2022, the Tigray War caused an estimated 600,000 deaths, leading the New York Times to describe it in November 2022 as "one of the world's bloodiest contemporary conflicts." Follow Mahlet, a survivor of sexual violence, as her story of trauma and resilience unfolds through powerful 360-degree footage filmed inside Tigray.
Remembrance Wall: Honoring Their Names
Our Remembrance Wall is a sacred space dedicated to those we carry in our hearts. Attendees are invited to write the name of someone they are thinking of during this conference—whether a loved one lost to genocide, a survivor, or someone whose courage and resilience inspire them. Each name becomes part of a collective tribute, a powerful reminder that their stories are not forgotten. Together, we honor their memory and reaffirm our commitment to justice, remembrance, and hope.
Words of Hope
A space for reflection, resilience, and solidarity. Here, allies and genocide survivors share heartfelt messages of compassion for those enduring suffering today. Participants are invited to write private notes of solace and encouragement, placing them in a collective box. These sentiments will be documented, shared online, and woven into a powerful collective poem—a living testament to unity, strength, and hope. Join us in amplifying voices of resilience and standing in solidarity with those who need it most.
L'Alliance des communautés de victimes de génocide s'engage à construire un mouvement fort, diversifié, pacifique et inclusif pour prévenir et mettre fin aux génocides et pour s'assurer que les voix des survivants et des victimes sont entendues et respectées.
Exhibit Title: Echoes of Resilience: A Tapestry of Survival
Exploring the transformative power of art—moving from memory and reflection towards actionable change.
“Echoes of Resilience” serves as both a memorial and an educational beacon—an art collection that not only honors the painful histories of genocide but also celebrates the unyielding spirit and cultural richness of the Tigrayan, Uyghur, Hazara, Tamil, Tibetan and Tutsi communities.
This thoughtful synthesis of art and history is intended to inspire reflection, dialogue, and ultimately, hope for a future defined by understanding and unity.
📍 Where: Human Rights Research and Education Centre, Fauteux Hall (5th floor)
When: March 30th - April 31st 2025
L'Alliance des communautés de victimes de génocide s'engage à construire un mouvement fort, diversifié, pacifique et inclusif pour prévenir et mettre fin aux génocides et pour s'assurer que les voix des survivants et des victimes sont entendues et respectées.
