On Sunday, April 7, 2024, a ceremony was held at the memorial to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, located in Geneva, Switzerland, in a place known as Place des Nations.
The event was attended by staff from the Rwandan Embassy in Switzerland, the United Nations in Geneva, Rwandan families in Switzerland, survivors of the genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda, as well as friends of Rwanda, with the aim of commemorating and honoring those who perished and recognizing the resilience of survivors in rebuilding their lives after the tragic events of 1994 in Rwanda.
It was marked by a moment of silence as a tribute to more than a million people who lost their lives in the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 and to acknowledge the strength of the survivors in their ongoing journey of healing and contribution to the rebuilding and unity of the Rwandan community.
Rwandan Ambassador to Switzerland, James Ngango, emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to ensure that genocide never happens again, and underscored the responsibility of every Rwandan to remember and honor the victims, to educate future generations, and to actively participate in the nation’s development and unity over the past 30 years.
César Murangira, Director of IBUKA Switzerland, highlighted upcoming events in Switzerland, including an Evening of Remembrance scheduled in Lausanne on April 13, 2024; a Walk to Remember event in Geneva on April 15, 2024, and other commemorative activities.
International Genocide Remembrance Day for the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda will also be observed in the United Nations offices in Geneva on April 15, 2024, and in Vienna, Austria, on April 19, 2024.
The genocide memorial in Geneva was inaugurated on April 8, 2019, through the joint efforts of IBUKA Switzerland, the Rwandan Embassy, and the City of Geneva.
This memorial serves as a place of remembrance and reflection for the 1994 genocide against Tutsi survivors in Switzerland and beyond, reminding all who visit of the importance of preventing genocide and preserving peace and harmony among all people, especially during times of remembrance like this.
