International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda
On 7 April, UNESCO commemorates the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2003. The date marks the beginning of the genocide perpetrated against members of the Tutsi minority by the Hutu extremist-led government. Within just over 100 days, more than 1 million Tutsi were systematically murdered. Moderate Hutu and others who opposed the massacres were also killed during this period.
UNESCO is committed to promote education about genocides as a means to sensitize learners for the causes, dynamics and consequences of such crimes and to strengthen their resilience against all forms of discrimination.
2022 COMMEMORATIONS
To mark the 28th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, UNESCO will organize a ceremony in memory of the victims that will take place on 21 April 2022. The ceremony will include high-level interventions from Firmin Edouard Matoko, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations, H.E. Mr. François-Xavier Ngarambe, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Rwanda to France, Permanent Delegate, H. E. Mr. Santiago Irazabal Mourão, President of the 41st General Conference of UNESCO and Etienne Nsanzimana, President of IBUKA France and a testimony from Félicité Lyamukuru, genocide survivor. The event will further include performances by Dorothée Munyaneza and Daniel Ngarukiye. It is moderated by Jessica Gerondal Mwiza, Vice-President of IBUKA France.
The 2022 commemorations are organized in partnership with the Permanent Delegation of Rwanda to UNESCO.
What UNESCO does for remembrance and prevention of genocide
Background
- UN Resolution 58/234 - International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda (2003)
- UN Security Council Resolution 2150 (2014) - Recommitment to Fight against Genocide
- UN draft resolution 72/L.31 - International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda, adopted 26 January 2018
- Previous commemorations : 2021 - 2020 - 2019 - 2014
- All UNESCO international days and weeks
