Outreach Programme on the Rwanda Genocide and the United Nations
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Despite procedural delays, UN war tribunals still making progress, officials tell Security Council

12 June, 2013

President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Theodor Meron. UN Photo/Evan Schneider

The United Nations war crimes tribunals set up in the wake of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s are despite various delays, close to completing their work, their officials told the Security Council today, stressing that they will need support of the international community to address remaining challenges.

Prosecutor of UN Rwanda genocide tribunal urges cooperation to catch roaming fugitives

11 June, 2013

Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) Hassan Bubacar Jallow. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

With nine men linked to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda still on the run, the Prosecutor who would help to try them is today urging Member States to cooperate with the United Nations war crimes tribunal and its successor body to track down and arrest the fugitives.

Security Council recognizes contribution of UN Yugoslav tribunal

25 May, 2013

Courtroom 1 of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Photo: ICTY

Members of the Security Council on Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of the United Nations tribunal set up in the wake of the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s, recognizing the Hague-based body's commitment to the fight against impunity for perpetrators of war crimes.

In Rwanda, UN envoy stresses need to rebuild trust among countries in Great Lakes region

1 May, 2013

Special Envoy for Africa’s Great Lakes Region Mary Robinson in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), before leaving for Rwanda. Photo: MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti

A senior United Nations envoy visiting Rwanda today highlighted the importance of restoring trust among countries in the Great Lakes region to ensure long-term peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and beyond.

Ban marks Rwandan genocide with call for arrest and prosecution of remaining fugitives

15 April, 2013

Some of the participants at the memorial ceremony of the 19th Commemoration of the Rwanda Genocide. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Commemorating the anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged the international community to do more to prevent such atrocities and encouraged Member States to expedite the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the atrocities in the African nation.

FEATURE: One woman’s heroic efforts to restore more than just Rwanda’s forests

12 April, 2013

Rose Mukankomeje, Director General of the Rwandan Environment Management Authority

As her nation emerged from crisis, and in the face of great personal tragedy, Rose Mukankomeje took the initiative to bring Rwandans together to protect their natural resources and, in the process, restore communities devastated by conflict.

Assembly stresses role of international criminal courts in fostering reconciliation

10 April, 2013

General Assembly President Vuk Jeremic (right) and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as the Assembly debated the “Role of International Criminal Justice in Reconciliation.” UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz

The United Nations General Assembly today held its first ever debate on the role of the international criminal justice system in reconciliation, with its president stressing the vital part it must play not just in looking back on past atrocities but in bringing former foes together to build a better and more inclusive tomorrow.

On anniversary, Ban honours victims and survivors of Rwanda genocide

7 April, 2013

Racial or ethnic discrimination has been used to instill fear or hatred of others, often leading to conflict and war, as in the case of the Rwanda genocide in 1994. UN/J. Isaac

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today honoured the memory of the more than 800,000 people who lost their lives during the Rwandan genocide in 1994, and stressed countries have a 'shared responsibility' to prevent mass atrocities from happening again.

UN chief meets with Rwanda’s President Kagame to discuss security in the Great Lakes region

20 March, 2013

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) meets with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Rwandan President Paul Kagame met today to discuss the newly signed United Nations-backed accord aimed at stabilizing the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the context of bringing peace to the Great Lakes region.

DR Congo: UN official welcomes Security Council action in efforts against conflict-related sexual violence

8 January, 2013

Special Representative Zainab Hawa Bangura. UN Photo/Cristina Silveiro

The United Nations official dealing with conflict-related sexual violence today welcomed the Security Council’s imposition of sanctions on two armed groups active in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – the Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Rwanda (FDLR) and 23 March Movement (M23).

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