Education systems must move beyond textbooks and place survivor testimonies at their core if future generations are to resist hate and genocide ideology, experts have said. This was the central message at the International Conference on Genocide Prevention, held on Wednesday, April 8, at Intare Conference Arena in Rusororo. The event brought together hundreds of participants, including senior government officials, diplomats, and survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. ALSO READ: Rising genocide ideology in Great Lakes demands urgent action – experts While education is often described as a “vaccine against hate,” experts cautioned that its effectiveness depends on the values it transmits. James Smith, founder of Aegis Trust, challenged the assumption that education alone prevents violence, pointing to historical evidence to the contrary. “We’ve learned here in Rwanda and in Europe during the Holocaust that the ideologues and organisers of genocide are often among the most educated—doctors, lawyers, and even priests. That forces us to ask what kind of education truly prevents hate, because knowledge alone does not make people humane,” he said. Smith emphasised that while fields such as science, medicine, and law equip people with knowledge and skills, they do not inherently cultivate compassion. “Education going forward must emphasise values, demonstrate that choices have consequences, and nurture empathy alongside critical thinking to build resistance against conspiracy theories,” he added. He stressed that survivor testimonies must remain central to education, as they offer something no textbook can replace. ALSO READ: How youth can lead fight against genocide ideology on social media “As time passes, we must ensure these voices are recorded, preserved, and shared. They give a human face to history and help young people grasp the reality behind the facts,” Smith said. In an era dominated by social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, where misinformation can spread rapidly, he urged educators in genocide studies to adopt more innovative approaches to ensure truth reaches young audiences. Eric Murangwa Eugene, founder of the Ishami Foundation, echoed this view, noting that direct engagement with survivors helps students distinguish lived truth from misinformation, an essential defence against denial. ALSO READ: Survivor-authors documenting truth for future generations “It is astonishing that we still have to make the case for describing what happened in 1994 as a genocide against the Tutsi. If we fail to name it correctly, denial will flourish, accountability becomes blurred, and the lessons for prevention are weakened,” he said. He warned that mischaracterising the genocide, such as framing it as a war or a “double genocide”, distorts reality and obscures its ideological roots. Jeanne Allaire Kayigirwa, a founding member of Ibuka France, reflected on earlier challenges in Europe, where denial and misinformation once complicated remembrance efforts. “Through building organisations, engaging researchers and journalists, and creating memorial spaces, we have made progress. Safeguarding evidence and testimonies is essential—it is what makes denial increasingly difficult to sustain,” she said. However, she cautioned that denial never fully disappears. “A negationist is never truly gone. That is why we must continue educating, documenting, and ensuring younger generations understand what happened and why it still matters,” she said. Kayigirwa added that education must go beyond informing to inspiring action, empowering young people to strengthen their communities and stand firmly against hate.
