CANBERRA: Federal Senator for Victoria, Janet Rice has joined the Joint Justice Initiative, pledging to recognise the Genocides committed against the Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks of the Ottoman Empire during the first World War.

The February 2020 launch of the Joint Justice Initiative at Australia's Parliament House featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), Assyrian National Council – Australia (ANC) and Australian Hellenic Council (AHC), which declares Australia's recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides as a priority on behalf of their communities.

A climate scientist by training, Janet Rice was elected to represent the state of Victoria in the Senate in 2014 and is currently serving on her chamber’s Select Committee of Sports Grants and is also the Deputy Whip of The Australian Greens.

Senator Rice’s The Australian Greens have a party policy position calling for Federal recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and she has also previously hosted a visiting delegation from the Republic of Artsakh in Canberra.

The Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), Haig Kayserian said the Joint Justice Initiative was proud to have Senator Rice join a growing number of her parliamentary colleagues in supporting national recognition of the genocides.

“Senator Rice and her colleagues in our parliament are our greatest assets in our joint communities’ struggle for justice and recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Assyrian and Greek Genocides,” said Kayserian.

The Joint Justice Initiative has so far announced the support of Rice, Steve Georganas MP, Michael Sukkar MP, Senator Louise Pratt, Warren Entsch, Joel Fitzgibbon MP, Andrew Wilkie MP, Julian Leeser MP, Michelle Rowland MP, Senator Paul Scarr, Tony Zappia MP, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Senator Hollie Hughes, Senator Rex Patrick, Mike Freelander MP, Senator Eric Abetz, Senator Larissa Waters, Senator Pat Dodson, Jason Falinski MP, Josh Burns MP, John Alexander MP, Senator Andrew Bragg and Bob Katter MP with a promise of more announcements to come.

On 25th February 2020, over 100 Federal Australian parliamentarians, diplomats, departmental officials, political staffers, academics, media and community leaders were treated to cultural performances, food, wine and brandy, as well as the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, which affirmed that the signatory public affairs representatives of the three communities were jointly committed to seeing Australia recognise the Turkish-committed Genocides against the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian citizens of the Ottoman Empire during World War I.



More information here.