Հումանիզմի և «կողմնակի վնասների» խաչմերուկում. Հայոց Մեծ եղեռնի որբերի խնամքի կազմակերպման խնդրի շուրջ

Abstract

The article studies the peculiarities of the organization of the care of orphans during the Armenian Genocide. Studying the practice and incentives of the actions of the main participants in the process (the Government of Turkey, the population of Eastern and Western Armenia, public figures of Armenia, missionaries, charitable organizations, etc.) the paper raises questions concerning the main challenges in the face of physical existence, identity preservation and protecting children’s rights. Organization of care for orphans during the Genocide had two main directions: first - self-organization (churches, individuals), and the second - external intervention (foreign delegations and international humanitarian organizations). At the same time, care for children was provided both in orphanages and in families. Despite these differences, the main challenge was the “social value” of physical existence, which was directly related to the uncertainty, lack of control and professionalism in the organization of care. The final arguments focus on the use of previous experience to minimize the possible failures and “side effects” in the organization of care for orphans.