PURPOSE: The United Nations General Assembly declared 7 April as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.The Assembly members calls upon States to recommit to preventing and fighting against genocide and other serious crimes under international law, and underscores the importance of taking into account lessons learned from the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, during which Hutu and others who opposed it were also killed.
FORUM: "Remembering the victims and the survivors of the Rwanda Genocide." 2025 International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. In 1994, within just over 100 days, close to one million members of the Tutsi minority were systematically murdered during the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Moderate Hutus and others who opposed the massacres were also killed during this period. It’s time 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. Its been 30 years following bloodshed in Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda during 1994. As Rwandans with an ambition towards a good future, lets not value any fact that can lead us back to such devilish darkness. Compiling the testimonies has been a group effort. Join the conversation with the hashtags #Kwibuka31, #rwandagenocide, #RememberUniteRenew, #7april, #minuteofsilence, #7april, #PreventGenocide.
EVENTS: On April 7th 2025; At the United Nations HQ in New york to mark the 31st commemorative ceremony of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, The United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations member states will organize a ceremony in memory of the victims is organized by the Department of Global Communications in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Rwanda. The opening remarks by the United Nations Secretary-General, the President of the 79th session of the General Assembly and by a survivor testimony. The speakers will be the Permanent Observer of the African Union to the UN, the Chargé D'affaires, Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the United Nations; The commemorative event will be moderated by the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications and the Musical performance by the United Nations Staff Recreation Council Symphony Orchestra. Get the Programme and watch the livestream.
At the African Union in Addis Ababa; starting at 9:30 EAT in the Nelson Mandela Hall, NCC Building, African Union HQ; The 2025 Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda in the AU was held. The annual commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda seeks to continuously awaken greater awareness of the African peoples and the international community about the value of life and humanity, and to renew our collective commitment to protect and uphold fundamental human rights. 2025 marks the 31st commemoration which will make emphasis on the theme "Remember-Unite-Renew". During a span of one hundred days, one million were killed in 1994. Since April 7, 2010, as per the decision of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the African Union (AU) has been organizing annual commemoration events. 2025 marks the 31st anniversary of those tragic days, a significant moment to honor the deceased, stand in solidarity with survivors, and join together to prevent such atrocities from occurring ever again. Additionally, it presents an opportunity to gain insights into Rwanda's journey of healing, reconciliation and nation-building. The commemoration will bring together officials from the African Union Commission, African Union Member States, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, African Union Organs, Regional Economic Communities, Religious Institutions, Human Rights Institutions, Intergovernmental organizations, Civil Society Organizations, UN Agencies, Think Tanks, International Organizations, Schools and Academic Institutions in Ethiopia as well as the Rwandan Community in Addis Ababa. The African Union Commission (AUC) through the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in Ethiopia and Permanent Mission to the African Union and UNECA, will lead the commemorative activities which will include:
The Walk to Remember.
Prayers by the Representative of the Orthodox Community; Muslim Community; Catholic Community; and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church.
Lighting of the Flame of Remembrance accompanied with a Commemoration Song.
A Documentary Movie on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
One Minute of Silence in Memory of the Victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Click Here to Watch the Live Event
On April 7th 2025 from 13:15 to 13:50; The UNESCO will organize in partnership with the Permanent Delegation of Rwanda to UNESCO a commemorative ceremony; The commemoration at UNESCO Paris will include high-level interventions from Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, H.E. Mr. François-Xavier Ngarambe, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Rwanda to France, Permanent Delegate, and testimony from genocide survivors. the commemorative ceremony will beIt is moderated by the Vice-President of IBUKA France. The commemorations are organized in partnership with the Permanent Delegation of Rwanda to UNESCO.
EXHIBITS: UNESCO will also feature “Kwibuka: Rwanda 1994 on the fences” at UNESCO Headquarters on Avenue de Lowendal, for two months during April and May 2025. The exhibition was created in March 2024 by Aegis Trust and UNESCO and explores four genocide memorial sites in Rwanda with UNESCO World Heritage status through personal experience.
STATEMENTS: “On this International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, let’s commit to be vigilant and to work together to build a world of justice and dignity for all – in honour of all the victims and survivors of the genocide” Remarks of the U.N. Secretary General on the 2025 Commemoration of the International day of reflexion the 1994 Genocide against the Tsutis in Rwanda.
PUBLICATIONS: The Rwandan Genocide: Why Early Warning Failed. Early warnings of the Rwandan genocide were ignored because policy makers perceived it as a "civil war," denied the facts, and decided not to intervene, preventing U.S. and U.N. lawyers from calling the killing "genocide." Early reinforcement of UNAMIR could have saved hundreds of thousands of lives, but "group-think" precluded consideration of direct military intervention by the U.S. and allied forces, though they were near Rwanda and rescued their own nationals. Unwilling to financially and militarily support a reinforced UNAMIR, the U.S., U.K. and U.N., the Security Council ordered UNAMIR to leave Rwanda; because they did not consider Rwandan lives worth saving at the risk of their own troops.
We study the economic impact of the Rwandan genocide in 1994, which has been one of the most intense events of political violence since World War II. Read the full report of The Economic Effects of Genocide: Evidence from Rwanda.
PODCASTS: Education can play a key role in preventing genocide by providing a forum to address past violence while promoting the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that can help prevent current day group-targeted violence. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: REMEMBER-UNITE-RENEW. Get the campaign materials!
WHY WE OBSERVE THE DAY?
The date of 7 April 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.
ACTIONS
Talk with communities about the atrocities of genocide and the importance of working towards a peaceful way of life.
Take measures to mobilize civil society; Diplomats and key community figures on the consequences of the genocide.
Observe a minute of silence for the victims and the survivors.
Help prevent future acts of genocide.
PARNERSHIPS
The International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the tsuti n Rwanda, is organized by the Outreach Programme on the Rwanda Genocide and the United Nation; The UNESCO; The Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the U.N.; The Permanent Mission of United States to the U.N; The Permanent mission of France to the U.N.; The Aegis Trust Genocide Archive of Rwanda; The Rwandan National Commission for the Fight against Genocide;The Kigali Genocide Memorial Center; The USC Shoah Foundation