Hundreds of Rwandans, friends of Rwanda and the international community, gathered for the 30th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in an event held at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, on April 15. The event was part of Kwibuka 30 events organized by the Rwandan Embassy to Switzerland and Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva. It reflected on remembrance and reflection on the resilience and unity that defined Rwanda’s journey since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The event commenced with a ‘Walk to Remember’ from Quai Wilson, in the vicinity of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights headquarters, leading to the Memorial Stele. Wreaths were placed followed by a minute of silence. The “Kwibuka 30 International Conference” included various discussions on genocide prevention, human rights, and the importance of remembrance and education to combat denial and distortion of history. The conference underscored the need for international cooperation to ensure the memory is preserved, bring justice and support for survivors. During her remarks, Anne-Emery Torracinta, a prominent Swiss political figure, emphasized that the genocide against the Tutsi was not inevitable and pointed to the role of international actors, like Switzerland, who could have intervened. A genocide never happens by accident, she explained, noting the decades of discrimination against the Tutsi since the late 1950s. She underscored the importance of acknowledging the signs of genocide and taking preventive actions before it is too late. Itonde Kakoma, President of Interpeace, highlighted the crucial balance between remembering the trauma of the past and empowering future generations. Kakoma said: Because memory is inseparable from the trauma, the question is how we shield the next generation from trauma.” He emphasized that society must continue to honour the memory of the victims, while at the same time empowering the next generation to be resilient against legacies of the genocide and its ideology. The conference featured the Kwibuka 30 commemoration ceremony which included various commemorative activities such as lighting of candles, symbolizing remembrance and hope for peace. Additionally, the event featured testimonies from survivors, poetry and memorial music along with further reflections by invited guests on the lessons learned from Rwanda’s tragic history and a short documentary on “Rwanda, from despair to hope”. During the Ceremony, Clarisse Naila Petrus, a genocide survivor, gave a heartbreaking testimony that offered a personal and powerful perspective on the harrowing experiences during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, providing a vivid account of the pain, loss, and resilience that have marked the lives of those who lived through the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. César Murangira, President of Ibuka in Switzerland, emphasized in his speech the continued difficulties associated with the denial of the genocide and the incomplete international recognition of the unique persecution of the Tutsi. In his remarks, he advocated for continued support of the survivors and accurate historical acknowledgment. During his speech, Ambassador James Ngango, Rwanda's envoy to Switzerland and the UN, reflected on the persistence the inability to prevent genocide, and urged the international community to take concrete actions to fight genocide ideology and cooperate in the pursuit of justice as regards the issue of genocide fugitives. He reminded the diplomatic community of the ongoing cleansing of Congolese Tutsi communities in eastern DR Congo and urged them to proactively put an end to it. “We call upon the international community to re-commit to the provisions of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and other relevant international instruments to prevent and fight genocide, he said.
