The 7th of April 2016 marks an important day for all Rwandans as it commemorates the Victims of the Genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda, which took place in 1994. This year’s commemoration marked its 22nd commemoration and a remembrance event was hosted by H.E. Jean Pierre Karabaranga, Ambassador of Rwandan and Ibuka, an organization for the survivors of the genocide, at the Hilton Hotel in The Hague on the 8th of April.
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This period also known as Kwibuka22 ( you can visit #Kwibuka22 online activities ), which means To Remember , is the beginning of a 100 day mourning period in remembrance of those who have perished in the genocide and will end on July 4th , which marks the date of the end of the genocide by the RPF movement , which saved many genocide survivors .
The tragic events, which took place in 1994 during 100 days of mass killings, took the lives of over 1 million innocent people and left many homeless, without families, with physical and psychological wounds. However, the horror that Rwandans lived through during those 100 days was only the end of a long and painful 30 years period of discrimination, sufferance, exclusion and persecution of Tutsi people by an extremist regime. Due to systematic planning of eradicating the Tutsi people in Rwanda, the genocide ideology was promoted over years. This year’s commemoration highlighted the danger of genocide ideology and therefore this year’s motto called for a united fight against genocide ideology.
The commemoration event , which marked the 22nd commemoration were respectful and mirrored the horror that had happened. The women were beautifully dressed in long light colored traditional Rwandan gowns and a picture of the current Rwandan president Paul Kagame (who led the military campaign that put the end to the genocide) was displayed at the front accompanied by the Rwandan flag. The event was well attended and guests from all nationalities and age groups gathered to stand with Rwandans to show their support. Amongst the distinguished guests where many members of the diplomatic community and many members of Rwandan in The Netherlands.
The evening allowed its guests to remember the genocide against the Tutsis of Rwanda in a respectful environment, which started with a prayer for the genocide victims, followed by a moving and tragic testimony of Anita, a genocide survivor.
Furthermore, all guests participated in the lighting of the candles ceremony led by three young Rwandan girls. In addition to this, a short documentary about the genocide and a speech by the President of Ibuka aided to enhance the memorable evening.
H.E. Jean Pierre Karabaranga delivered a touching speech referring to President Paul Kagame who stated, “As we remember we cannot turn back the clock, but we have the power to ensure that it will never happen again”. H.E. Jean Pierre Karabaranga drew to an end by highlighting the optimism Rwanda is experiencing today and the incredible progress this country has made in the last 22 years.
Lastly, the guests enjoyed an incredible poem made by two Rwandan women, which brought this event to a close. Afterwards, guests shared a get-together reception at the Hilton Hotel.
Video of the Poem:
