RWI | Western Washington University

Ray Wolpow Institute

Welcome to The Ray Wolpow Institute for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity (RWI) at Western Washington University!

The RWI is a member of the Association of Holocaust Organizations (AHO) and the National Higher Education Leadership Consortium of Directors of Centers in Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Studies.

April is Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month

April marks the anniversaries of many genocides and mass atrocities.

April 1, 1933: Nazi-organized boycott of Jewish stores and businesses. A major step leading to the Holocaust.
April 5, 1992: Declaration of Independence by Bosnia-Herzegovina. Mass atrocities followed, including the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica.
April 6, 1994: The assassination of Juvenal Habyarimana, Rwanda President, starting a campaign of genocide against Rwanda Tutsi and moderate Hutu.
April 17, 1975: Khmer Rouge takes power in Phnom Penh. The genocide in Cambodia began thereafter.
April 24, 1915: The start of the genocide of Armenian in the Ottoman Empire.

Days of Remembrance:

April 7: Kwibuka (Rwanda Genocide Day of Remembrance)
April 14: Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
April 17: Fall of Phnom Penh and Cambodian Genocide Memorial Day
April 24: Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

As we remember these and other mass atrocities, let us commit ourselves to creating and sustaining a better world.

Noémi Ban Lecture Series

Local Holocaust survivor Noémi Ban was an award-winning educator and public speaker. A beloved member of the Western community, the institute's online memorial lecture series honors Noémi's legacy by bringing renowned scholars to virtual audiences to share their insights on Holocaust and Genocide Education.

Learn more about previous lectures via the lecture series page, and stay tuned for more!