From left to right. Dr. Farideh Shaygan, Dr. Nasrin Mossaffa (moderator) and Dr. Jamshid Momtaz

Former member and President of the UN International Law Commission and professor of Tehran University Dr. Jamshid Momtaz said in Tehran that in order to avoid future genocides, the principal of equality and justice among ethnic groups must be observed and enhanced in communities which enjoy cultural, ethnical and religious diversity.

Addressing a seminar on the occasion of 19th Anniversary of Rwanda Genocide at Khane Andishmandan-e Oloum Ensani (House of Humanities Intellectuals) in Tehran on 22 April, Professor Momtaz said the international community could have prevent genocide in Rwanda.

“If proper and timely preventive measures had been taken, genocide would never have happened in Rwanda,” he said adding that it was for the same reason that the then UN Secretary-General in his report paid special attention to the issue of “prevention”. 

Also speaking at the conference organized jointly by the Iranian Association of UN Studies (IAUNS) and UNIC-Tehran were: UN Resident Coordinator Gary Lewis who delivered the UN Secretary-General’s message on the Commemoration, as well as IAUNS Secretary-General Dr. Farideh Shaygan, who delivered her speech on “Intervention by invitation in internal conflicts and unrest, and the doctrine of responsibility to protect”. A UN documentary film on Rwanda genocide entitled “ Duhozanye: A community of resilience, hope and dignity” was also screened, followed by a question and answer session.

Two years ago, as part of its educational outreach programme, the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Moscow translated into Russian, a comic book produced by the UN Department of Public Information entitled "TUGIRE UBUMWE - Let's Unite!". In collaboration with Rwandan artist and genocide survivor Rupert Bazambanza, the comic on the Genocide in Rwanda was designed for a young audience. It uses the example of Rwanda to promote respect for diversity and reconciliation.

This year, the first in a host of UNIC-organized awareness-raising activities, UNIC commemorated the Rwanda Genocide by organizing a soft launch of its self-produced DVD "TUGIRE UBUMWE".

During a brief ceremony unveiling the newly created DVD, UNIC provided a short synopsis of the developments leading up to the carnage, the tragic story of the genocide itself and its immediate aftermath. UNIC believes that sharing these stories contributes to lessons of conflict, intolerance and reconciliation.

In attendance were representatives of partner Universities (Moscow State University, Peoples' Friendship University, University for International Relations, research institutes (Institute of African Studies) and libraries (Russian State Library, Dobrolyubov's Children's Library).

The Secretary-General's message was read aloud, excerpts of the video screened and a lively Q&A session followed.  In addition to producing of some 100 copies of the special DVD, it can also be downloaded from UNIC's website.

UNIC Dhaka jointly with University of Information Technology and Sciences (UITS) and Daffodil International University (DIU), organized an event to mark the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide on 12 April 2013 at the University.

The observance included a seminar, poetry recitation, dramatic performance and a poster exhibition. Prof Dr Muhammad Samad, Vice Chancellor of UITS was the chief guest while Dr. K. M. Saiful Islam Khan, Pro- Vice Chancellor, UITS presided over the function. 

In his key-note speech, UNIC Officer-in-Charge Kazi Ali Reza said that the United Nations was pledge-bound to prevent genocide anywhere in the world and highlighted on the reconciliation process in Rwanda through peace and development. Mijanur Rahman Raju, Faculty of DIU, also spoke as special guest.

Lt. Col. (Retd) Khairul Bashar, Director (Admin) of UITS and who also served in the Rwanda Peacekeeping Mission, shared his practical working experience in Rwanda.

Renowned poets from Bangladesh recited human rights poems. A human rights drama – “We Sing of Equality” was staged by ‘All Star Daffodils’ - a theatre group from DIU. A poster exhibition was also organized on the Day.

To mark this year’s commemoration, UNIC Lusaka embarked on a two day educational outreach tour in Kabwe, Central Province from 8-9 April under the theme “To console one another”. The educational institutions visited were Nkrumah Teachers College and Mulungushi University in Kabwe.

The target groups were mainly the students at these institutions but members of staff and other non-academic staff who were interested in learning and knowing about the Rwanda Genocide where also present. The topic under discussion generated a lot of debate and lively discussion.

During the educational tour, there was a video screening of the documentary “Duhozanye”, which shows the steps the people of Rwanda and particularly a group of women, have taken to help each other and the communities they hail from heal the wounds of the past and the measures they have taken to make a better future for themselves and other surviving members of their communities.  

The presentations were done by UNIC’s, National Information Officer and Team Assistant who gave a synopsis on the Rwanda Genocide and the role of the United Nations. Other activities included a question and answer session and the screening of the video” Duhozanye” which set the stage for the group discussion. 

A total of 150 students from the two educational institutions were reached during the tour.