Ibuka, the umbrella organisation of Genocide survivors’ associations has called for stronger implementation of the National Unity and Reconciliation Policy in order to ensure full unity and reconciliation and the elimination of genocide ideology.

The call was made on Wednesday, April 30, as Ibuka met with the parliamentary committee on unity, human rights, and the fight against Genocide.

In a presentation made to the committee, Naftal Ahishakiye, the Secretary General of Ibuka said that progress has been made regarding how Rwandans are living but a number of issues linger around, affecting the full realisation of unity and reconciliation.

ALSO READ: Experts urge firm measures to avert Genocide ideology perpetuation

Among these, he pointed at Genocide ideology as a major underlying factor that continues to persist across various groups in the society, where people still harbour discriminatory and racist mind-sets.

Ethnic bias remains evident both within the country and outside, according to Ahishakiye.

"This is evident in armed groups like FDRL and their political supporters in the region constantly use discriminatory language and actions targeting the Tutsi wherever they are. This is fuelled by online propaganda where groups of people working abroad spread hate speech and discrimination and radio and television stations operating abroad spread hatred and divisionism,” he noted, giving examplse of media like Jambo ASBL in Belgium, and Gicumbi in Canada.

Ahishakiye also talked about the lack of timely and appropriate punishment when Genocide survivors are targeted, especially in the commemoration period. He noted that whenever such incidents occur, people often choose to misrepresent the situation, avoiding the proper term "genocide ideology” and instead call it usual social issue.

"Someone is killed, and people start to misrepresent the truth. They sometimes say the person was addicted to alcohol, had mental health issues, social misconduct, or other misleading statements,” he noted.

Ahishakiye added that if one carefully traces the scenarios leading up to such murder cases, they often find clear signs and evidence that indicate the killer had intentions rooted in hate.

Limited historical awareness and laws that punish Genocide also pose a challenge in attaining full unity and reconciliation, Ahishakiye said, explaining that Rwanda’s past, particularly the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, has not yet been clearly taught to all people, especially the youth. As a result, many lack a proper understanding of the events that led to the Genocide and what happened during it.

He also pointed at the widespread lack of knowledge about the laws that punish Genocide, genocide ideology, and related crimes. This legal ignorance, he said, contributes to ongoing misuse and misinterpretation of sensitive terms and actions related to the Genocide.

"Most young people still use words that diminish or deny the Genocide. But if you explore more deeply, you find that many of them simply do not have accurate information. A large number of them are vulnerable due to this lack of clarity,” he said.

Genocide convicts who are not in jail yet their whereabouts are known, especially those found guilty by Gacaca courts are also a challenge, Ahishakiye said, noting that they pose a serious threat to Genocide survivors, since many of these convicts are still living freely in society.

He also pointed at trauma as a challenge against unity and reconciliation. Currently, 32 per cent of Genocide survivors aged above 35 are still living with trauma. This ongoing psychological distress is largely linked to unresolved living conditions caused by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Ahishakiye also said that the continued concealment of information regarding the whereabouts of Genocide victims has largely hindered unity and reconciliation efforts. To this day, bodies are still being discovered in different parts of the country, sometimes near people’s homes or within residential areas.