Alumnos del Club Amigos de la ONU discuten acerca del genocidio de Rwanda

17 de abril, 2009 – Estudiantes del Club Amigos de la ONU de la Institución Educativa PNP “Jorge Cieza Lachos”, de San Juan de Lurigancho, acompañados por su Director, el Mayor PNP Benjamín Gómez Espinoza y la profesora Margarita Muñoz Valencia, Coordinadora del Club Amigos de la ONU, así como alumnos de la Institución Educativa PNP “Martín Esquicha Bernedo”, acompañados de la profesora Carmen Sánchez Jara, participaron el día de ayer en una mesa redonda que se llevó a cabo en la sede del Centro de Información de las Naciones Unidas (CINU) para discutir acerca del tema del genocidio, en el marco de las actividades con motivo del 15º aniversario del genocidio cometido en Rwanda, África.

Como se informó a quienes participaron en esta actividad, todos los 7 de abril las Naciones Unidas conmemora un nuevo aniversario de la tragedia humana que ensangrentó Rwanda en 1994 cuando, en tan solo 100 días, cerca de 800 mil personas, en su mayoría Tutsis, así como algunos Hutus moderados, fueron brutalmente asesinadas durante una guerra civil.

Silvia Gaínza, del CINU, hizo una presentación sobre ese hecho, e informó acerca de la Convención sobre la Prevención y la Sanción del Delito de Genocidio, aprobada por la ONU en 1948, luego de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Luego de la presentación, los alumnos discutieron en mesas de trabajo acerca del tema, y en sesión plenaria dieron a conocer sus conclusiones, entre las que destacaban formas para impedir que se cometan crímenes semejantes y la manera cómo en sus vidas personales debían eliminar todo sentimiento racista, de odio a personas diferentes o cualquier otra forma de discriminación y actitud intolerante.

A Mass at Regina Mundi Cathedral, Bujumbura in memory of the victims of the Rwandan genocide

To mark the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda, the United Nations Information Office (UNIC) in Bujumbura co-organized a series of activities with the Rwandan Embassy in Burundi and the UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB).
 
On 6 April 2009, a press conference was held, chaired by the Ambassador of Rwanda in Burundi. During the press conference, UNIC Bujumbura screened the documentary entitled, “Rwandan Media: Past and Present,” a film that details the trial of three managers of Rwandan radio stations who were found guilty of promulgating “hate” messages via the media and examines the role the media played in the genocide.  

On 7 April 2009, a Mass in memory of the victims of the genocide took place in Regina Mundi Cathedral, Bujumbura and was attended by the First Vice-President of the Republic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, representatives of the diplomatic corps, the UN System and the Rwandan community residing in Burundi, as well as the general public.
 
On 11-13 April 2009, UNIC Bujumbura organized a three-day photo exhibition in support of a series of conferences organized by the Rwandan Embassy in Burundi on the themes referring to the Rwandan genocide. During the three days, UNIC Bujumbura continuously screened the following films and documentaries about the Rwandan genocide including "The Road to Reconciliation", "A Friend in Need", "Confronting the Threat of Genocide", "Inside the ICTR", "Women for Women" and "The Kigali Genocide Memorial."
 
On 13 April 2009 an official ceremony was held to close out the series of memorial activities. The Secretary General’s message for the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda was read by the Executive Representative of the Secretary-General for Burundi and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Burundi , Mr. Youssef Mahmoud. Speeches were also made by the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports, the Executive Secretary for the Great Lakes Region and the Ambassador of Rwanda in Burundi.

Participants at peace event at the Lycee Andohalo in Antananarivo

The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Antananarivo organized two events to commemorate the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda.  The first event on 7 April 2009 was the opening of an exhibit at UNIC Antananarivo about the genocide. Through photos, words and film, visitors to UNIC Antananarivo learned more about how the genocide happened, how it could have been prevented and the cost of inaction. Approximately 500 students visited the exhibit in its first two days. The exhibit will be open to the public until the end of April 2009.

On 8 April 2009, an event for peace was held at the Lycee Andohalo in Antananarivo. Participants included students, scouts, survivors of the Rwandan genocide and the media. Speakers included experts on human rights and UNIC Antananarivo's National Information Officer. The scouts distributed peace messages and members of the UN Club performed in a show about love and peace. Young people at the event committed to spreading the message of peace. 

Quiet reflection while listening to testimonies

A twilight ceremony to mark the 15th anniversary of the Rwanda genocide was held on 7 April 2009, at the Peace Gardens, beside the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, in Canberra. The program included the reading of testimonies of Rwandan genocide survivors, poems by local writers and a formal reading of the Secretary-General’s message.

The commemoration began with the master of ceremonies, a representative from Amnesty International Australia, introducing the Acting Director of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Canberra, who then read the Secretary-General’s message.

Miss Zarmina Nasir, an aid worker who had witnessed many atrocities, followed by reading a heart-rending testimony by Uyisenga, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. Mr. Max Taranhike, a Zimbabwean poet based in Canberra, then read a poem he had composed in honour of the Rwandan genocide victims and survivors , a poem which focused on the violence perpetrated against women and children.

To conclude the ceremony, a poem of recovery and peace was read by Miss Cathy Ragless, the Director of Companion House, an organisation which provides services and support to adults and children who have sought refuge in Australia from persecution, torture and war related trauma. The poem came from a book of poems written by refugees and published by Companion House.

The ceremony was held by candlelight and conducted inside the pagoda within the park.  All readings were followed by cello recitals by Mr. David Pereira, one of Australia’s most accomplished cellists, the sounds of which echoed across the lake.

The commemoration was held to remind everyone that the victims of the Rwandan genocide still face many challenges today and it is hoped that the testimonies from survivors will teach the lessons of genocide in order to help prevent similar acts in the future.

The ceremony was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, university students and members of the  multicultural community and Amnesty International. It was organised by UNIC Canberra in collaboration with Amnesty International and with support from the Mon Community in Canberra.