Over 300 guests attended the event, which also marked the 24th Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Guests included the Rwandan Community in New York as well as Rwandans from out of state. The event that was held on 13th April, was also attended by Permanent Missions to the UN and UN Staff from its various agencies.
The commemoration event featured UN Secretary General Mr. António Guterres, President of the General Assembly, Miroslav Lajčák, Permanent Representative of Mali to the UN, Amb. Issa Konfourou, on behalf of the African Group at the UN, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the UN Amb. Valentine Rugwabiza, and Consolée Nishimwe- author of ‘Tested to the Limit’, who gave her testimony of surviving the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
In his remarks, the UN Secretary General Mr. António Guterres acknowledged the suffering of the survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi, while commending the nation as a whole for their steps towards reconciliation.
The President of the General Assembly, Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, urged the international community that ‘people should come first. Not procedures. Not bureaucracy. Not politics. But people.’
Ambassador Konfourou, having reflected on the meaning of the theme ‘remember-unite-renew’, noted that ‘Rwanda is a vivid example of what exemplary leadership can bring about for its people’ and commended the efforts of Rwandan’s and the Rwandan leadership for their efforts towards reconciliation, justice, social cohesion and inclusive development.
Consolee Nishimwe gave a chilling yet ultimately hopeful testimony of her experiences in 1994. Her concluding messages to all were that ‘silence favors perpetrators. Whenever we see injustice, we must speak out’ and ‘never lose hope, because loosing hope is the beginning of your self-defeat’. The audience honored Ms. Consolee with a standing ovation after sharing her testimony.
In her remarks, Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the UN, began by commending the Secretary General Mr. António Guterres for being the first Secretary-General of the UN since 1994 to name the targeted group and victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi during Kwibuka23. She further noted the significance of this year’s commemoration, being the first commemoration held after the adoption of decision A/72/L.31 which established April 7th as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Ambassador Rugwabiza drew attention to the worrying trend of reduced sentences and early releases of genocide masterminds which is taking place in dubious circumstances. Her message to those who deny and disparage the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda was that ‘Rwanda’s resolve and commitment to accountability is relentless; Rwan5dan’s commitment to unity and reconciliation is irreversible’.
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