UN Commemorative Events Around the World April 2009
UN Information Centre, Antananarivo, Madagascar
A commemorative event was held including a film screening, reading of a testimony and showing of the ‘Lessons from Rwanda’ exhibit in French.
UN Information Centre, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
A commemorative event incorporating music and theatre performances, as well as the reading of survivor testimonies, was held on 7 April.
UN Information Centre, Bujumbura, Burund
On 6 April, a press conference chaired by the Ambassador of Rwanda in Burundi was held. The following day, a mass in memory of the victims of the genocide took place in Regina Mundi Cathedral, the major Catholic church in Bujumbura, attended by the First Vice-President of the Republic and the Minister of Foreign Affairs among others. From 11 to 13 April, a series of conferences on themes relating to the Rwanda genocide was organized by the Rwandan Embassy in Burundi, where the UN Information Centre displayed the ‘Lessons from Rwanda’ exhibit and screened various films on the Rwanda genocide. On 13 April, an official ceremony marked the 15th commemoration of the Rwanda genocide, with remarks by the Executive Representative of the Secretary General, Mr. Youssef Mahmoud, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports, Mr. Jean Jacques Nyenimigabo, the Executive Secretary for the Great Lakes Region and the Ambassador of Rwanda in Burundi.
- UN Information Centre, Canberra, Australia
A twilight ceremony was held on 7 April, at the Peace Gardens in Canberra, including the reading of testimonies of Rwandan survivors and poems from local writers. - UN Information Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
A candle-lighting ceremony and film screening were held in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda on 7 April. On 25 April, a public lecture on the lessons of the Rwanda genocide took place at the University of Dar es Salaam. - UN Information Centre, Lusaka, Zambia
A two-day exhibition on the Rwanda genocide was held from 7 to 8 April, including a film screening. - UN Information Centre, Mexico City, Mexico
In collaboration with the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Africala Film Festival, the UN Information Centre in Mexico hosted a workshop for journalists by experts on the subject of genocide; an educational program for school teachers and students; and a commemorative event, including testimony readings and the screening of films by Rwandan filmmakers. - UN Information Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
On 13 April, members of the diplomatic community, religious leaders and UN staff members assembled at the UN Office in Nairobi to commemorate the Rwanda genocide, with prayers led by Christian, Muslim and Rwandese clergymen. The ceremony included the reading of testimonies and closing remarks by the Ambassador of Rwanda to Kenya, Mr. William Kayonga.
- UN Information Centre, Pretoria, South Africa
On 7 April, in partnership with the Embassy of Rwanda, the University of South Africa Primedia Holocaust & Genocide Unit and the Johannesburg Holocaust Centre, the UN Information Centre in Pretoria organized a commemorative event which included remarks, a film screening and candle-lighting. - UN Information Centre, Windhoek, Namibia
Youths of the International Youth Centre expressed the lessons learned from genocides in exhibits, songs, dance, mime and drama. Prof. Ndengejeho Pascal from Rwanda was the keynote speaker at the event in Omaruru. - UN Information Service, Vienna, Austria
Webster University Vienna, in partnership with UNIS Vienna, held a commemorative event at the beginning of a seminar on genocide prevention where the Secretary-General's message was delivered, followed by a minute of silence. The students discussed material from the ‘Lessons from Rwanda’ UN website, including the testimonies of survivors and the new ‘Visions of Rwanda’ photo exhibit. - UN Office at Geneva, Switzerland
On 7 April, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Rwanda in Geneva organized, in collaboration with UN Office at Geneva, a commemorative event in the Palais des Nations. Remarks were delivered by Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, followed by statements from Ms. Venetia Sebudandi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the UN Office at Geneva, Ms. Navenethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and others. The ceremony also included the reading of a testimony of a survivor.