Kwibuka 29 - Commemoration of the International…

Commemoration of the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda

Commemorative ceremony - 7 April marks the 29th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this day, we honor the more than one million people – overwhelmingly Tutsi, but also Hutu and others who opposed the genocide – who were systematically killed in less than three months, and reflect on the stories of those who survived. The theme of this year's International Day is 'Remember, Unite, Renew'. 

In this important year of the 75th anniversary of both the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the commemoration serves as a reminder of how hate speech can escalate into mass violence and genocide, and that preventing atrocity crimes is a shared responsibility by all.

• Introduction by the Master of Ceremonies, Ms. Alessandra Vellucci, Director, United Nations Information Service.
• Lighting of candles
• Observance of a minute of silence
• Memorial Song by Ms. Shanel Nirere and guitarist Mr. Wade Alune
• Message of Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, read by Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva, followed by the Director-General's remarks
• Remarks by Mr. César Murangira, President of the Association of Genocide survivors IBUKA, Memory and Justice (Swiss section)
• Poetry reading by Mr. Albert Mukwiye
• Testimony by Ms. Providence Umugwaneza, Survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda
• Memorial Song by Ms. Shanel Nirere and guitarist Mr. Wade Alune
• Remarks by H.E. Ms. Marie Chantal Rwakazina - Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations Office and other international organizations at Geneva