Armenian Rebirth: The Last Plight

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm PDT

About this event

An evening with Garo Paylan; hosted by the Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA in partnership with the Center for Truth and Justice. This event is co-sponsored by the Armenian Students’ Association at UCLA, The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA School of Law, the UCLA Luskin Center for History and Policy and the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research.

Join us for an evening with Garo Paylan, leading opposition voice and a human rights defender in Turkey, as he addresses the recent blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the ongoing genocide and the steps necessary to end the suffering of the Armenian people.

Garo Paylan has served in the Turkish parliament for 8 years, from 2015 to June 2023, and is internationally recognized for his struggle for democracy and minority rights in Turkey, as well his support for peace in the Caucasus.

Paylan was among the very few Armenians to be elected in the Turkish parliament and was the first lawmaker to submit an amendment for the recognition of Armenian genocide in Turkey. He continued to highlight the need for Turkey to face this historic tragedy throughout the time he served in the parliament but was legally prosecuted for his amendments and statements.

Paylan has been a vocal critic of discrimination against Turkey’s Christian and Jewish minorities and has consistently used his public position to highlight abuses and policies that affected minority communities.

Prior to entering parliament, Paylan served as a coordinator for Armenian schools in Turkey and is among the founders of “Friends of Hrant Dink” – a group that has sought justice for the 2007 killing of the Armenian journalist and has been organizing commemorations for the Armenian genocide.

Garo Paylan is widely recognized as one of Turkey’s leading democracy advocates and has been the recipient of several international awards for his work on democracy.

Register for in-person attendance.
Register for virtual attendance.

Parking and Logistics Information:

Visitor parking available at UCLA Parking Structure 8.

1. Park on the roof of Parking Structure 8
2. Pay for parking at a Paystation
3. Take the stairs or the elevator to Level 1/Westwood Plaza
4. Cross the street diagonally, then turn slightly left, continuing north, past the bus stop
5. Engineering VI will be on your right as you walk north on Westwood Plaza

Please note: This event will be photographed and recorded for documentation and distribution. All audience members agree to the possibility of appearing in these photographs and recordings by virtue of attending the event or participating in the event.