On the occasion of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Bar Association will publish a law journal encompassing a collection of manuscripts focusing on the range of potential legal responses to the events of 1915-1923, which resulted in genocide and dispossession, Asbarez reports.
The Armenian Bar Association is thereby calling for papers on the 100th day before the 100th year anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and is directed exclusively to students currently enrolled in any law school in the world. The authors of the top three articles will be awarded monetary scholarships, with $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. The deadline to submit manuscripts is April 24, 2015.
Armen K. Hovannisian, Chairman of the Armenian Bar Association, described this important research, writing and implementation initiative as follows: “Turkey pirouetted to the vulgar dance of denialism throughout most of the first century after the Genocide. While the tricksters’ spins and swirls of indecency will reappear, probably stronger still, in the second century after the Genocide, they had better get used to having some company. A whole nation will lie in wait little longer. Though many years and several lifetimes have passed between the wrongful acts and their judgment days yet to come, we– and not time–will heal our own wounds.”
Contributors are asked to concentrate their efforts on the following: Research, analyze, and write on the viability of legal claims, under the laws of the United States and/or under international law, to reparations and restitution for damages and losses resulting from the Armenian Genocide. Please discuss who (i.e., descendants of victims/survivors, the Republic of Armenia, Armenian Churches, etc.) has standing to sue, the applicable substantive law, the appropriate forum for the prosecution of claims, and any applicable judicial/tribunal precedent. Included in the discussion should be an analysis of the status of the Republic of Turkey as a successor state to the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey’s legal responsibility to pay damages and make reparations for events that occurred during the Ottoman Empire. In addition, a critical study of the anticipated defenses (i.e., statutes of limitation) and a discussion of a claimant’s potential arguments against such defenses should be made.
