March for Humanity > Quick Facts

Why Doesn’t the U.S.Recognize the Genocide and Hold its Perpetrators Responsible?

Due to Turkish threats, every U.S. administration since 1982 has feared that properly recognizing the Armenian Genocide would offend the Turkish government. As a result, the executive branch has consistently opposed the passage of Congressional resolutions commemorating the Genocide and has objected to the use of the word “genocide” to describe the systematic destruction of the Armenian people.

Genocide Denial Campaign

The Republic of Turkey, which, in spite of the overwhelming evidence documenting the Armenian Genocide, continues to pursue a well-funded campaign - in Washington, DC and throughout the world - to deny and ultimately erase from world history the 1.5 million victims of Ottoman Turkey's and later the Republic of Turkey's systematic and deliberate massacres and deportations of the Armenian people by between the years 1915 and 1923.

Governments that Recognize and Condemn the Genocide

Several countries have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide through legislation and state declarations. Some of the more recently prominent legislative bodies to pass such resolutions include the Dutch Parliament, Swiss National Council, Canadian House of Commons, Argentinean Senate, and the French National Assembly.

Why is Genocide Recognition So Important?

The first step in stopping future genocides from occurring is to acknowledge past crimes against humanity. It is only then that we can unequivocally condemn all genocidal campaigns and take a stand against them. By recognizing and officially commemorating the Armenian Genocide, the United States would be ensuring that the lessons of this terrible crime against humanity are never forgotten. In addition, proper recognition would encourage Turkey to finally come to terms with its own history and eventually improve relations with Armenia.