On January 27, 2018, the TSU International Law Institute and the Center of International Criminal Law and International Cooperation in Criminal Matters hosted an academic conference “The Holocaust and Genocide Studies in the Context of Human Rights” dedicated to the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
On January 27, 1945, Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration and death camp, was liberated by the Red Army.
In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly decided to designate January 27 as annual international day of commemoration to honor Holocaust victims. It called on the states to raise awareness about the Holocaust.
During the conference, TSU’s BA and MA students studying international law and international relations presented their papers on the Holocaust and Genocide issues. Academic discussion was dedicated to the historical review of the Holocaust, the influence of this crime on international law, analysis of the facts of genocide committed before and after the 1930s, as well as theoretical aspects of genocide crimes.
In his opening remarks, Director of the TSU International Law Institute, Academician Levan Alexidze recollected the horrible crimes committed during the Holocaust and stressed the importance of encouraging academic discussion on this issue through the involvement of young scientists. “Today is a sad day, but we should remember what happened during the Holocaust to ensure that the world no longer allows the recurrence of this cruelty,” he said.
Prof. Ketevan Khutsishvili, director of the Center of International Criminal Law and International Cooperation in Criminal Matters, whose name is associated with the development of interdisciplinary teaching and research in international criminal law at TSU, also addressed the conference. She noted that the conference was being held on the sideline of events marking TSU’s 100th anniversary. Prof. Khutsishvili also spoke about the importance of researching the crimes of the Holocaust and generally, genocide and stressed the need for raising awareness on these issues.
The conference aroused strong interest among students. About 80 students attended it. Certificates were awarded to the best speakers. Two students received a special award from the International Law Students Association – Georgia, and one best speaker was awarded with an internship in Public International Law.
