[Bilimsel Haber] DENYING GENOCIDE: LAW, IDENTITY AND HISTORICAL MEMORY IN THE FACE OF MASS ATROCITY

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

*DENYING GENOCIDE: LAW, IDENTITY AND HISTORICAL MEMORY IN THE FACE OF
MASS ATROCITY*
*Location:* 	New York
<http://www.h-net.org/announce/geography.cgi?geography=United%20States&location=New%20York>, 

United States
<http://www.h-net.org/announce/geography.cgi?geography=United%20States>
*Conference Date:* 	2006-12-03

	

	

It has become axiomatic that for a society to move forward after
experiencing mass atrocity, it must acknowledge the “truth” of what
happened, through trials, truth commissions, and other methods. In
reality, however, many societies have dealt with mass atrocities in the
opposite manner: they have denied that the atrocities happened or the
society’s part in committing such acts. In response to instances of
historical denial, some countries have turned to criminal and
international law.

These efforts raise serious questions for any liberal democracy about
free speech and the limits of historical debate. Can forbidding genocide
denial be justified in the context of freedom of speech and
anti-discrimination laws? What should states do in the face of racist
rhetoric that deploys denial as a tool of racist argument threatening
annihilation of a group? Limits on speech are not the only means of
countering denial. States have mandated educational programs to promote
historical memory and combat denial of mass crimes. These programs raise
further questions about defining history. What is historical truth? Who
decides its contours? Similar questions can be asked of the truth
commissions many countries have implemented to acknowledge past crimes
and create repositories of information to prevent future denial.

Experts from a variety of fields, including Deborah Lipstadt, Slavenka
Drakulic, Paul van Zyl, Taner Akcam, and other distinguished guests,
will address the questions raised by both denial and the methods used to
counter it.

Dates: DECEMBER 3-4, 2006

Location: Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law-- 55 Fifth Avenue at 12th
Street-- New York, NY 10003

For more information, please visit
http://www.cardozo.yu.edu/academic_prog/phhrs/

Registration is free, but advance registration is required by November 27.

To register, please call 212-790-0455 or e-mail
denialconference.reg at gmail.com. Please include your name, telephone
number, e-mail address, and whether you will be seeking CLE credit.

APPROVAL FOR 7 CLE CREDITS PENDING

	Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
55 Fifth Avenue at 12th Street
New York, NY 10003
Phone: 212-790-0455
Email: denialconference.reg at gmail.com
<mailto:denialconference.reg at gmail.com>
Visit the website at http://www.cardozo.yu.edu/academic_prog/phhrs/