The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) warmly congratulates its long-standing volunteer Armenia coordinator and companion, human rights activist and scholar Dr. Tessa Hofmann, on being awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, which will be presented to her today (October 20, 2025).

“We are extremely pleased about this well-deserved honor,” says Sarah Reinke, head of human rights work at the STP. “With her scientific expertise and tireless commitment, Tessa Hofmann has made a significant contribution to ensuring that the genocide of the Armenians is not only known in Germany, but also politically recognized.”

For decades, Dr. Tessa Hofmann has been committed to addressing and raising awareness of genocides—in particular, the genocide of Armenian, Assyrian/Aramaic, and Greek Orthodox Christians in the Ottoman Empire. Her commitment extends far beyond the boundaries of academic work: As founder of the Arbeitsgruppe Anerkennung, gegen Genozid, für Völkerverständigung (AGA) (Working Group for Recognition, Against Genocide, for International Understanding), she played a key role in the German Bundestag's recognition of the genocide in 2016. When Azerbaijan began its nine-month hunger blockade of Artsakh in 2022, Tessa Hofmann was among the first to warn of genocide. Once again, she is tirelessly campaigning for reappraisal and recognition and urgently warning against the continued violence against Armenians.

Numerous publications, lectures, and campaigns can be traced back to her work. Her books, such as “Der Völkermord an den Armeniern vor Gericht” (The Armenian Genocide in Court, 1980) and “Das Verbrechen des Schweigens” (The Crime of Silence, 1985), are still considered standard works today. At the same time, she played a leading role in the establishment of the Berlin Memorial for the Victims of the Genocide of Christians in the Ottoman Empire – the first of its kind in Germany.

“Tessa Hofmann is not only a scholar, but also a bridge builder,” Reinke continued. “She creates connections between academia and civil society, between the diaspora and the political public sphere – and in doing so, she always remains humane, respectful, and uncompromising in her work.”

With Tessa Hofmann, the Office of the Federal President honors a woman whose work has not only had a lasting impact on the Society for Threatened Peoples, but who also serves as a role model for civic engagement and historical responsibility. Hofmann lives and works in Berlin.

This press release was translated from German to English using AI. If you come across errors or ambiguities, please contact us at presse@gfbv.de.