Given the polarisation of views over the current Chechen conflict, by
commemorating such a Day we hope it will be a means of bringing Chechnya related organisations and individuals around the world as well as those concerned with promoting peace and tolerance amongst peoples together by doing events on a single day. It also hopes to provide a strong basis of inviting and introducing the local establishments to the Chechen cause and raising awareness of the long running struggle against Russian hegemony and oppression.

Sixty two years ago, on 23 February 1944, Stalin ordered the deportation
of the entire Chechen and Ingush population to Central Asia. More than
half of the 500,000 people who were to be forcibly transported died in
transit or in massacres committed by Soviet troops. Those who survived the journey were left facing starvation and disease in the harsh winters of Siberia and Central Asia.

Within days an entire people had been erased from the land of their
ancestors. Overnight Chechnya and Ingushetia were emptied of their native inhabitants, and every reference to Chechnya was removed from official maps, records and encyclopaedias. Finally, in 2004, the European Parliament recognised this tragedy as a genocide.

So we commemorate 23 February as World Chechnya Day (WCD) and we hope you will endorse and participate in World Chechnya Day with us...

World Chechnya Day is being commemorated to:

* Recognise the suffering and genocide of the Chechen people as a human
catastrophe of historic significance
* Respect all victims of Stalinist deportations
* Raise awareness and understanding of the Chechen genocide as an issue of importance to humanity
* Ensure that the horrendous crimes, racism and victimisation that were
committed during the Chechen genocide will never be forgotten or repeated, in Europe or elsewhere in the world
* Reflect on contemporary atrocities that raise similar issues
* Educate subsequent generations about the genocide and the continued
relevance of the lessons that can be learnt from it
* Assert a continuing commitment to oppose racism, victimisation and
genocide
* Support shared aspirations for the ideals of justice, security,
dignity and peace for all

To learn more about World Chechnya Day, its history, its supporters and
other events taking place worldwide, please feel free to visit:
www.worldchechnyaday.org

**Action**

As part of the World Chechnya Day commemorations, we are encouraging
people and organisations all around the UK, and indeed worldwide, to
organise film showings and talks locally, to sell and wear the World
Chechnya Day wristbands and, generally, to raise awareness of the Day and the issues concerned. We would appreciate it if you would also participate in World Chechnya Day by organising local activity such as film showings and a talk.

If you should be interested in participating, please feel free to contact
us at  info@savechechnya.org for documentaries, speeches, wristbands and any other support you may require.

Please do submit any events you organise locally on the WCD events page,
 http://www.worldchechnyaday.org/page/add_event as one of the aims of the website is to be a clearinghouse for WCD events worldwide.