Wales Genocide Memorial

The Wales Genocide Memorial stands in the garden of the Temple of Peace in Cardiff. It honours victims of the Armenian genocide carried out between 1915 and 1922. The monument was unveiled on 2 November 2007 by the Wales-Armenian Society. A trilingual inscription marks the stone, written in Welsh, Armenian and English. Bishop Nathan Hovhannisian led the consecration service during the opening ceremony. Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas and the Armenian Ambassador to the UK were among those present. Over three hundred people attended the event. The memorial has faced acts of vandalism since its creation. In January 2008, the ornate Armenian Cross was smashed with a hammer found nearby. Eilian Williams of Wales Armenia Solidarity condemned the attack strongly. The incident occurred just before a remembrance service for the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide. Williams promised the cross would be repaired repeatedly despite such acts. He also called on the UK government and the Turkish Embassy to condemn the racist violence. Visitors find a quiet garden setting beside the Temple of Peace in central Cardiff. The stone cross stands as the central feature of the memorial. The trilingual inscription is clearly visible on the base. The garden offers space for reflection and remembrance. The Temple of Peace itself is a well-known landmark in the city. The memorial remains a place for commemorating victims of genocide.