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New York, 7 April 2015

During our solemn moment of silence, I remembered my many visits to Rwanda.

The genocide was a source of unbearable pain for the country – and unmistakeable disgrace for the world, including the United Nations.

I will never forget the images I saw at the Gisozi Memorial of babies who were killed in their mothers’ arms… youth cut down in the prime of their lives… whole families slaughtered.

They were among the more than 800,000 victims we mourn today.

I am honoured that Ms. Regine Uwibereyeho King is here to share her story.

She was abandoned by the international community when her country and her family needed help. She suffered the loss of her loved ones – but she managed to keep her compassionate spirit.

I repeat my pledge to always remember the people of Rwanda.

Nifatanije naban yarwanda.

I stand in solidarity with the people of Rwanda.

Our reflection on the Rwandan tragedy should go beyond one country and one moment in history.

We have to take a hard look at the present.

From Iraq and Syria to the Central African Republic, South Sudan and beyond, we see alarming abuses of people’s rights – especially the right to life.

We must strengthen our resolve to stop atrocities, end incitement and save lives.

This is our moral responsibility.

It is not enough to condemn atrocity crimes once they are occurring. We must act much earlier to prevent them.

Today I call for intensified international action to uphold our responsibility to protect and put human rights up front.

I urge all governments, especially those with influence, to transcend their national interests and live up to their obligations to our shared humanity.

This Day of Reflection falls during the 70th anniversary of the United Nations.

As we pay tribute to the people of Rwanda, let us honour the founding purpose of this Organization: to unite for peace so that all people may live with the equality and dignity they deserve.

Thank you.

Source: UN

{Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza Tuesday called for the repatriation of Burundian citizens who have fled to Rwanda since March, urging them to return to Burundi within one month, the president’s deputy- spokesman said.}

“The President (of Burundi) urged administration authorities in Kirundo, Parliamentarians elected in Kirundo constituency and natives of Kirundo province to do all they can to repatriate Burundian citizens who fled insecurity rumors in Rwanda within one month,” said Louis Kamwenubusa, Burundian President’s Deputy-Spokesman after a closed meeting President Pierre Nkurunziza held in the province of Kirundo with natives of that province.

More than 800 Burundian citizens from the country’s northern provinces of Kirundo, Ngozi and Muyinga, have fled to Rwanda since last month (March), but the majority of them fled from Kirundo.

Last week, two Burundian ministers visited a refugee camp hosting Burundian asylum seekers in Rwanda, but failed to convince them to return home.

Those asylum seekers indicated that they fled their homes after reports of a war that may break out during Burundi’s forthcoming elections.

Those Burundian citizens have sought refuge in the Rwandan Eastern Province whereas others sought refuge in the Rwandan Southern Province.

They fear that the situation during the country’s general elections due from May to September this year may be similar to that of 1993 when inter-ethnic massacres between the majority Hutus and the minority Tutsis occurred after the killing of first Hutu democratically elected President Melchior Ndadaye.

Burundi is to hold this year general elections between May and September, with the presidential election to be held on June 26. Enditem

Source: Xinhua

Rwanda’s justice minister on Wednesday welcomed France’s declassification of documents relating to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which Kigali accuses Paris of having an indirect role.

However, Minster of Justice Johnston Busingye said Paris should ensure the documents released are “total.”

A decision to declassify the papers was signed on Tuesday and concerns “documents in the Elysee relating to Rwanda between 1990 and 1995,”

“The Franco-Rwanda political, diplomatic and military relationship during the 1990-1995 period has been a tightly guarded domain,” Busingye told AFP.

“Perhaps the goings on at the time will finally be opened up, and it will shed light on the many dark and grey questions still unaddressed. One only hopes that the declassification is total.”

The papers, which include documents from diplomatic and military advisers as well as minutes from ministerial and defence meetings, will be available to both researchers and victims’ associations, the French presidency said.

Ties between France and Rwanda are strained as Rwanda accuses Paris of complicity in the genocide because of its support of the Hutu nationalist government that carried out the mass killings, mainly of ethnic Tutsis.

Paris has repeatedly denied the accusations and insists that French forces had worked to protect civilians. Relations between both countries were completely frozen from 2006 to 2009.

The president of Ibuka, Rwanda’s genocide survivors’ association, called for documents to be made available as soon as possible.

“Let them do it and do so quickly, it is interesting, it is good,” said Jean-Pierre Dusingizemungu, saying it could shed light on France’s role and actions through the period of the genocide.

{{Source: AFP}}

IGIHE removes some element in this Article

{France has declassified documents in the presidential archives relating to the Rwandan genocide, exactly 21 years after its start on April 7, 1994.}

A decision to declassify the papers was signed on Tuesday and concerns “documents in the Elysée relating to Rwanda between 1990 and 1995,” a source in President François Hollande’s entourage told AFP.

“The president had announced a year ago that France must provide proof of transparency and facilitate remembrance of this period,” the source said.

The material, which include documents from diplomatic and military advisers and also minutes from ministerial and defence meetings, will be available to both researchers and victims’ associations.

Source: AFP

{Martin Kobler, Chief of MONUSCO, is calling for tolerance on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi.}

In a press release, Martin Kobler said “Today, Rwanda and the whole world still remember the atrocities of the genocide committed in Rwanda 21 years ago. The commemoration of this sad page in human history is a heartbreaking reminder of the need for building peace together”

He reminded that in 1995, the UN made an awareness raising appeal to help avert acts of genocide in future.

The International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda has been commemorated every year since 2004 to avoid the mistakes of the past.

“Sowing the seeds of peace today will help avert wars and genocides tomorrow. Together, we can build a peaceful world for the future generations,” concluded Martin Kobler.

{Rwanda National Police (RNP) has impounded a Fuso truck with Burundian plate numbers, suspected to have been smuggled from Japan and sold in Burundi. }

The successful interception was enabled by Interpol’s I-24/7 Tool which Rwanda installed at all its borders posts and enables officials to detect movement of any item that is smuggled between borders.

The truck was coming from Uganda on April 2 with goods amounting to US$13,500, including cooking oil and detergents, when it was stopped at Kanyaru Border before it crossed into Burundi from Rwanda.

“On arrival at the border post in Kanyaru, the I-24/7 Tool indicated that the truck was reported to have been smuggled from Japan. We immediately stopped it and began to conduct investigations, which led us to suspect that it was illegally shipped from Japan and sold in Burundi,” Police Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Celestin Twahirwa, said.

“Police contacted the assumed owner of the goods that the truck was transporting; however, investigations indicated that she had hired the truck for business and was not the so-called owner. She approached us and we gave her back her goods, but investigations are ongoing.”

He added that RNP has already contacted Burundian and Japanese authorities in a bid to find the legitimate owner as well as the smuggler who is suspected of smuggling it from Japan and selling it in Burundi.

The goods’ owner, a Burundian businesswoman who preferred anonymity, commended RNP for its intolerance to crime, and urged fellow entrepreneurs to protect the business community against crime by cooperating with Police.

“I am very glad that RNP has offered me my goods, because it could have been a big loss if we had lost them. I had no idea that the truck we hired to transport goods had been smuggled and I will cooperate with Police in every way possible in the investigations,” she said.

With the aid of Interpol I-24/7, RNP was able to intercept 10 smuggled cars since 2014; among which include a Range Rover Sport V8 which was impounded at the Rusizi Border Post on its way to DRC after being smuggled from the United Kingdom.

{Two ‘Friends of Rwanda’ from the Legislative Leadership Institute (LLI) in Carifonia, USA, on April 6, visited the Anti-gender based violence and child abuse medical wing, Isange One Stop Centre situated at Kacyiru Police Hospital, and hailed the holistic initiative as “an extraordinary approach that gives hope to women and children.” }

Bob Wood and Amy Polaski were accompanied by the Minister for Health, Agnes Binagwaho in a guided tour of various wings of the Police hospital where they were explained on various services offered.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dr. Wilson Rubanzana, Coordinator for Isange One Stop Centers and Specialized Medical Programmes in Rwanda National Police, while giving an overview of the hospital, said that Isange, which is one of the three wings of the hospital, has proved to be an answer in responding to incidences of gender awed violence and child abuse related issues.

“Isange is structured in a way that all services ranging from medical, counseling and legal are offered in one place for free. But again this centre has had several other initiatives like conducting countrywide awareness campaigns to urge and involve the general public against gender violence and child abuse,” explained Dr, Rubanzana.

“Victims now break silence about atrocities committed against them and we are now seeing a big turn up of people that report such atrocities and thus get all the help they require including medical and justice,” he added.

Speaking shortly after touring various units, Amy commended the government of Rwanda for fighting for the rights of women, girls and children.

“This is extraordinary and it’s another example of how Rwanda lives through example and by example,” Amy said, in reference to the free services given to victims.

“You have to credit the amount of thought that have gone into the integration of all levels of services to make this a success, and I think the population of Rwanda will be well served by this,” she added.

Wood said that “this is a real testimony of the First Lady Jeannette Kagame and the vision she has against gender based violence and child abuse, focusing on health, education and ultimately giving people economic stability.”

“This is a real credit. We are excited to be here in Rwanda and we look forward to great partnership and years ahead,” he added.

The centre was established in 2009 with the support of the First Lady and One UN.

Through advocacy and networking with Global Fund, the First Lady Madam Jeannette Kagame through Imbuto Foundation, was able to put infrastructures at KPH covering different suitable services for women like Women pavilion (maternity ward), project to support women empowerment, department for services that protect mother to child HIV transmission and Isange.

Isange model has provisions for emergency contraception, HIV prophylaxis, Sexual Transmission Infections (STI) prevention and other medications. It provides free referral and specialized services like medico-legal, gynecology and obstetrics, mental health, legal and investigation, psychosocial, safe room and social integration services.

Survivors, who stay in the safe room, receive basic services like feeding, clothing and shelter.

Since its establishment in 2009, it has received over 10, 000 cases, majority related to sexual and gender violence.

The centre scooped the United Nations Public Service Award (UNPSA) 2012 for its efforts in fighting Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). The award dubbed “Promoting Gender Responsive Delivery” of Public Services was in recognition of the success of the Isange. UNPSA is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service.

Minister Binagwaho said that the model has been successful both in terms of medical services and other required assistant to the survivors of GBV and child abuse, a reason why the government has decided to scale it up to other 41 district hospitals across the country by the end of this year, to also serve victims in the countryside, who sometimes find it hard to trek to Kigali or to other 12 centres so far established in some districts.

The scale up is implemented in partnership with Police, Rwandan government and the Netherlands Government.