2014 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 16 - Education
Chapter 16-93 - Genocide Education in Secondary Schools [See Title 16 Chapter 97 – The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]
Section 16-93-1 - Legislative findings.

RI Gen L § 16-93-1 (2014) What's This?

§ 16-93-1 Legislative findings. – The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(1) On November 4, 1988 the United States government ratified the International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide ("Genocide Convention") which was approved by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. Upon ratification, the United States government recognized that throughout all periods of history, genocide has inflicted great losses on humanity, and was convinced that, in order to liberate mankind from such an odious scourge, international co-operation was required.

(2) The United States government recognizes that genocide still continues, today, in the twenty- first (21st) century. The United States Congress passed House Con. Resolution 467, "Declaring genocide in Darfur, Sudan" on July 22, 2004. On September 9, 2004, the United States Secretary of State Colin L. Powell told the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee that "genocide has occurred and may still be occurring in Darfur. Additionally, President George W. Bush affirmed the Secretary of State's finding on September 21, 2004, when he addressed the United Nations General Assembly by saying: "At this hour, the world is witnessing terrible suffering and horrible crimes in the Darfur region of Sudan, crimes my government has concluded are genocide.' "

(3) The United States Department of Education says "education is primarily a State and local responsibility in the United States. It is States and communities, as well as public and private organizations of all kinds that establish schools and college and develop curricula . . . "

(4) The State of Rhode Island also has previously demonstrated its concerns and interests regarding raising awareness on subject of genocide.

(i) In 2000, the Rhode Island general assembly passed house bill no. 7397 "genocide and human rights education," requiring the Rhode Island department of education to "develop curricular material on genocide and human rights issues and guidelines for the teaching of that material."

(ii) In 2007, the Rhode Island general assembly passed house bill No. 5142, requiring the state investment commission to divest its assets from targeted companies in Sudan.

(5) The establishment of free public education in the United States is intended to prepare citizens for participation in American social, economic, and political activities.

(6) The State of Rhode Island has also previously demonstrated its concerns for civic education, of which genocide education should be a component. In 2005, the general assembly directed the board of regents for elementary and secondary education to develop and adopt a set of grade level standards in civic education by August 31, 2007.

(7) Given the importance of the issue of genocide to the political affairs of the United States, as well as the responsibility of the state to educate its citizens, it is a fundamental responsibility of the State of Rhode Island to ensure that the critical subject of genocide is included as part of the curriculum in all public schools.

(8) It is the judgment of the Rhode Island general assembly to encourage that every board of education in the state shall include instruction on the subject of genocide in an appropriate place in the curriculum, for all middle and high school students.

History of Section.
(P.L. 2011, ch. 45, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 70, § 1.)

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