On 12 May 2022, the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda to Poland will commemorate the victims of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi. The last genocide of the 20th century was a cataclysmic event which saw over one million assassinated in barely a hundred days.
The commemoration will be graced by the presence of Hon. Jakub Kumoch, Minister in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic and other officials from the Polish Government, members of the Rwandan Community in Poland, friends of Rwanda from all walks of life including Academia and Business community leaders, and members of the Diplomatic corps accredited to the Republic of Poland.
But the ceremony will also be the opportunity to reflect on Rwanda’s rebirth. “28 years later, Rwanda has proven to be a symbol of strength, resilience, courage, and inclusive development; through our exemplary leadership. Going forward, we will continue to keep the memory of victims alive while fostering our unity and prosperity.” Amb. Anastase Shyaka stated.
During the event, several speakers will share commemorative messages with the audience, including Fr Stanislaw Urbaniak, a Polish priest who saved many lives in Ruhango District during the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi and was awarded the Rwandan Order of Unity (Umurinzi w’Igihango) in 2015.
The commemoration will also include a lighting of candles (Urumuri Rutazima), symbolising the never-ending light of hope, and a poem will be recited.
During the 28th National Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwandan President Paul Kagame noted: " These very hard and bad lessons should never be wasted. Every year that passes makes us stronger and better people."
Under the theme “Remember-Unite-Renew”, the commemoration period, which started on 7th April 2022, will last for 100 days until 4 July 2022.
Key Fact about the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi:
On 20th April 2020, the UN General Assembly, confirming its Decision 72/550 of 26th January 2018, adopted Resolution A/RES/74/273 that “[reaffirmed] 7 April as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda” and “[condemned] without reservation any denial of the Genocide against the Tutsi ethnic group in Rwanda as a historical event in full or in part, as established by the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 2006, reject[ed] any denial of the genocide, and urge[d] Member States to develop educational programmes that will inculcate in future generations the lessons of the genocide in order to help to prevent future acts of genocide.
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