The Montreal Holocaust Museum (MHM) is hosting its travelling exhibit, United Against Genocide: Understand, Question, Prevent, until Aug. 17.
The exhibit, which is open to all ages, aims to inform the public about genocide, its implications and how to prevent it. It previously toured across Canada, and is presented in Montreal for the first time with its sixth and final section about contemporary mass atrocities.
The exhibit also exists in a virtual format, where online visitors can view its content.
Through testimonies, expert interviews and rare archives, United Against Genocide identifies the similarities and differences between four genocides: the Armenian genocide, the Cambodian genocide, the genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda and the Holocaust.
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The exhibition is divided into five sections:
- the stages of genocide;
- the role of survivors in the transmission of memory and the quest for justice;
- how to better understand the role of the media before, during and after genocide;
- the different forms of resistance that can be undertaken to try to save lives; and
- an exploration of the current violence in Burundi, Iraq, Myanmar and South Sudan, as well as examples of intervention.
“We believe this exhibit is an essential means of educating the public on the issue of genocide, as well as our responsibility and ability to prevent it, by intervening before it reaches its final stage of mass murder of human beings because of their religion, ethnic origins, community and political beliefs,” said Alice Herscovitch, the MHM’s executive director.
“Our final theme of prevention and intervention will hopefully awaken visitors to what they can – and must – do.”
We believe this exhibit is an essential means of educating the public.
– Alice Herscovitch
United Against Genocide was made possible with support from the Alex and Ruth Dworkin Foundation and is in partnership with the Comité national arménien du Québec, Association des Parents et Amis des Victimes du Génocide au Rwanda and the Centre Khémara, which is dedicated to Cambodian history.
The latest section was produced in collaboration with ABC Montréal, the Rohingya Association of Canada, Yazda and members of the South Sudanese community.
On Aug. 2, the MHM will hold its annual commemoration of the Roma genocide with members of the local Roma community.
