On this day, we honour those who were murdered, we reflect on the suffering and we recognize the resilience of those who have survived. As we join in solidarity with people of Rwanda, we must take a hard look at today's world and ensure that we heed the lessons of 27 years ago.
2021 Commemorations — 27th Anniversary
International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda
Events — New York
Virtual Memorial Ceremony
- Evite & Programme
- Please see "Important Note" for details
- Secretary-General — Message
- Secretary-General — Remarks
- President of the UN General Assembly
— Statement - Video clips
Virtual commemorative meeting to mark the 27th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, organized by the Department of Global Communications and the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the United Nations.
10:00-11:30 a.m. (New York time)
Side-Event of #Kwibuka27
How technology is being used to perpetuate hate and genocide denial and strategies to counter it
27 years ago, media technology was used to advance the genocide campaign against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Today, social media platforms are being used to purport denial, distortion, and revisionism of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. An upsurge in hate speech online inevitably leads to offline violence.
In this light, the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the UN in partnership with the UN Department of Global Communications will host a webinar on the theme of Fighting online Hate and Genocide Denial.
Events — Geneva
Hybrid Commemoration
Palais des Nations, Geneva
Events — Paris
Virtual Panel Discussion
UNESCO, Paris
Around the world
Commemorative and educational activities are organized by UN information centres around the world. Please note: schedule may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
UNESCO: Critical thinking and learning about the past are key to preventing future genocides
Live Discussion Series
Beyond the Long Shadow: engaging with difficult histories
Co-organized by the UN outreach programmes on the transatlantic slave trade, the Holocaust and the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the aim of the collaborative series, launched 8 July 2020, is to develop a deeper understanding of the legacies of these painful histories – and through examining the past, consider how best to build a world that is just, where all can live in dignity and peace.
Click here to register for upcoming sessions and/or to view past sessions
9:00 - 10:15 a.m. (New York time)
3:00 - 4:15 p.m. (Paris time)
Side-Event of #Kwibuka27
Memory at risk: the importance of genocide archives for justice, remembrance, research and education
Important Note
In response to COVID-19, and in the interests of the safety of staff and visitors, public programmes at United Nations Headquarters have been suspended until further notice. However, the public is invited to reflect on 7 April on one of the darkest chapters in human history when more than one million people – overwhelmingly Tutsi, but also moderate Hutu, Twa and others who opposed the genocide – were systematically killed in less than three months and to honour those who were murdered and reflect on the suffering of those who survived.
The public is also encouraged to join the UNHQ-New York virtual observance on 7 April on UN WebTV, featuring remarks by H.E. Mr. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, and H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the Seventy-Fifth Session of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Mrs. Valentine Rugwabiza, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the UN and Mr. Omar Ndizeye, a child survivor and author of Life and Death in Nyamata, and to share UN social media cards along with their own messages of solidarity.
#PreventGenocide #Kwibuka
🎥 Watch as the UN commemorates the 27th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and learn about our efforts to prevent similar acts in the future: https://t.co/4laKpTMFPN pic.twitter.com/e9enZEyaMF
— United Nations (@UN) April 7, 2021
Video Clips
Secretary-General's Remarks
(00:02:41)
General Assembly President's Remarks
(00:01:47)
Annual Commemoration - NYC
(00:41:43)
Annual Commemoration - Geneva
(01:11:10)