The panel discussion will take place on September 15, 2021 at 5 p.m. (CEST).

Who in Europe has heard of the so-called 44 Day War over the disputed territory of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)? About the victims, fallen soldiers, civilians and nearly 40.000 people forced out of their homes by the violence? Eventually, why was not this war and still isn't a matter of greater concern for the public in our region, and particularly in Germany?

Since the 1994 ceasefire agreement, the war in autumn of 2020 can be described as the most catastrophic in terms of human losses, war crimes, prisoners of war and civilian detainees. Estimated more than 7000 troops and some hundred civilians died during this relatively short war. The aftermath is especially disturbing for Armenians because it has resurfaced traumatic memories of the 1915 genocide. Now, the fragility of the ceasefire prevents Armenia and Artsakh from recovery. Shootings continue regularly on the borders. The social and economic integration of tens of thousands of displaced people contributes to the country’s instability.

We kindly invite you to our panel discussion (via zoom) and photo exhibition on the humanitarian aspect of the war, during which our speakers will address the aforementioned questions as well. We will also discuss whether the recent reelection of acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan could lead to the stabilization of the country. Finally, speaker Jan Zychlinski will take us through a small photo exhibition of displaced people (photographed in January 2021).

Speakers:

• Mira Antonyan, President of Armenian Association of Social Workers and Professor for Social Work at the Yerevan State University
• Gulnara Shahinyan, Director of Democracy Today NGO, International Expert of Human Rights and Human Trafficking, Author of Books and Articles on these Topics
• Jan Zychlinski, Professor of Social Work at Bern University of Applied Science, Documentary Photographer and Frequent Traveler to the South Caucasus 

The panel discussion will be moderated by Dr. Tessa Hofmann, Author and Independent Scholar of Armenian and Migration Studies, of Genocide Research.

The event is organized by DRA e.V. in cooperation with Jan Zychlinski

Registration: please send an email to Gohar Grigoryan at gohar.grigoryan@austausch.org to register for the event until the 13^th of Sept. We will provide you with the zoom link a few days before the event.