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 800,000 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.
2019 Events
UNESCO marks the 25th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda with a commemoration ceremony and round table entitled “Memory, research and transmission” on 9 April 2019 at UNESCO Headquarters. The exhibition “Upright Men” by Bruce Clarke, and the Shoah Memorial exhibition “The Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda” will be displayed on this occasion.
What UNESCO does for the remembrance and prevention of genocide
Video
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 : 2014
- All UNESCO international days and weeks
