In September, during UNESCO's 45th session of the World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a crucial decision will be reached regarding the potential listing of four Genocide Memorials and Nyungwe Forest National Park as UNESCO heritage sites.
Jean-Damascène Bizimana, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, shared this information, adding that the session will take place from September 10 to 25.
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This announcement was made during the 6th Preparatory Meeting of the African World Heritage Committee Members.
This gathering brought together experts in both cultural and natural heritage from across Africa to discuss the effective implementation of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Rwanda stands among the 12 African countries yet to have a site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The preparatory sessions aim not only to encourage Member States to nominate more properties but also to underscore the importance of their preservation.
Minister Bizimana emphasized the need for collective effort among African States, particularly the Committee members, to enhance the conservation of significant sites.
He urged these nations to collaborate in the quest to remove these sites from the List of World Heritage in Danger, a status they have held for several years.
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"The Genocide Memorials proposed for inscription carry immense historical weight. These sites are tied to the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in 1994 when over a million Tutsi lost their lives in just 100 days. This dark history serves as a somber reminder of international failures to intervene. By memorializing these sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Rwanda aims to ensure that such atrocities are never forgotten and never repeated," Bizimana said.
The four Genocide memorials in question—Kigali, Bisesero, Nyamata, and Murambi Genocide memorials—await the final decision on their potential inclusion as UNESCO heritage sites, which will be reached in the upcoming month.
Among other benefits, the listing raises global awareness of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi