International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda
On 7 April, UNESCO commemorates the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2003. The date 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 a million Tutsi were systematically murdered. Moderate Hutu and others who opposed the massacres were also killed during this period.
UNESCO is committed 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.
2020 commemorations
"We must say no to hate speech and xenophobia, and reject the forces of polarization, nationalism and protectionism. Only by recognizing that we are all one human family sharing the same planet will we be able to rise to the many global challenges that confront us – from COVID-19 to climate change."
Message from United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres
What UNESCO does for the remembrance and prevention of genocide
Background
- UN Resolution 58/234 - International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda (2003)
- UN Security Council Resolution 2150 (2014) - Recommitment to Fight against Genocide
- UN draft resolution 72/L.31 - International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda, adopted 26 January 2018
- Previous commemorations : 2019 - 2014
- All UNESCO international days and weeks
