The United Nations will mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda with events under the theme “Remember. Unite. Renew.”. The events remember the victims and honour the survivors and those who tried to stop the genocide.
More than 1 million people — overwhelmingly Tutsi, but also Hutu, and others who opposed the genocide — were systematically killed in Rwanda starting on 7 April 1994.
“We will never forget the victims of this genocide,” said Secretary-General António Guterres. “Nor will we ever forget the bravery and resilience of those who survived, whose courage and willingness to forgive remain a burst of light and hope amidst this dark chapter in human history.”
Official Commemoration at UNHQ
The Secretary-General will open the commemoration at UN Headquarters in New York on 12 April.
He will be joined by UN officials as well as Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the UN, and Ernest Rwamucyo, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the UN.
The commemoration will have an emphasis on youth who are growing up in Rwanda. Survivor Claver Irakoze, an author and founder of the Umurage Parenting Centre, is expected to speak about transmitting memories of 1994 from parents to children.
His survivor testimony will be followed by a poem written and read by a group of Rwandan youth.
Exhibit: “Remember. Unite. Renew.”
This year’s commemorative events also include a strong focus on countering hate speech.
The Department of Global Communications has a new exhibit at UN Headquarters about the power of post-genocide reconciliation, the potentially deadly impact of hate speech and what visitors can do to say #NoToHate.
At the heart of the exhibit is the story of Laurence Niyonangira, who fled the killings in her community, led by former neighbours following targeted hate speech.
The exhibit includes an interactive panel where visitors can voice their support for tolerance and pledge to speak out against hate speech.
See the exhibit yourself at the Visitors’ Lobby or online.
