Overview

This bill requires the UK government to formally recognise the events of 1915-1916 involving the killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and surrounding regions as genocide. The bill mandates a statement to Parliament outlining this recognition and the government's intended actions in response.

Description

The Armenian Genocide (Recognition) Bill compels Her Majesty's Government to officially acknowledge the Armenian genocide. Specifically:

• Formal Recognition: The government must formally recognise the killings of Armenians in 1915-16 as genocide, using the definition provided in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
• Statement to Parliament: The Secretary of State must make a written statement to the House of Commons confirming this recognition and detailing planned actions.
• Legal Definition: The bill incorporates the internationally recognized definition of genocide.
• Extent and Commencement: The act applies across the UK and comes into effect upon its passage.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly specify any new government spending. However, the government's response to the formal recognition (mentioned in the required parliamentary statement) could potentially involve further expenditure, though the exact amount is currently unknown and unspecified in the bill itself.

Groups Affected

This bill will primarily affect:

• Armenian diaspora in the UK: They will likely welcome the formal recognition and subsequent actions the government takes.
• Turkey: The Turkish government might view the recognition negatively, potentially impacting diplomatic relations between the UK and Turkey.
• Historians and academics: The bill may indirectly influence academic discourse and research relating to the events of 1915-16.
• UK Government: The bill imposes a legal obligation to make a formal statement and potentially act on the declaration.

Powered by nyModel