The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will on Sunday, April 7th, be part of the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide where an estimated 800,000 people, mainly ethnic Tutsis, were killed by the Hutu extremist-led government.
The Rwandan genocide which took place between April to June, 1994, has been variously described as the darkest time for the country, especially the Tutsis and moderate Hutus who were targeted and killed in the most gruesome manner imaginable.
The genocide started after the assassination of President Juvenal Habyarimana, an ethnic Hutu, which was blamed on then Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) rebels commanded by incumbent President Paul Kagame, who has consistently denied any involvement.
Over the next three months starting from April 7, 1994, the Hutus perpetrated what is now regarded as one of the worst genocides in the world and within the following 100 days, more than 800,000 members of the Tutsi minority were systematically murdered, while moderate Hutus and others who opposed the killings were also killed during that period.
In a statement by UNESCO on Saturday, the body has decided to commemorate the “International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda,” to mark the 30th anniversary of the genocide.
The United Nations General Assembly had, in 2003,
officially proclaimed April 7 the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda.
“Commemorating this important anniversary and honoring the many victims and survivors of the genocide, UNESCO will organize a ceremony on 7 April, 2024, at UNESCO Headquarters,” the statement reads.
“The event will be opened by the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Ms Stefania Giannini, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda in France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, H.E. Mr François Nkulikiyimfura.
“The event will further include survivor testimonies as well as a performance under the direction of Rwandan artist Yannick Ndoli.
“The ceremony is organized in cooperation with the Permanent Delegation of Rwanda to UNESCO and Ibuka France,” it added.