This Sunday, a Wreath Laying Ceremony took place in Geneva, Switzerland, at Memorial Stele of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Diplomats and staff from the Embassy of Rwanda to Switzerland and Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva, members of Ibuka Switzerland, the Rwandan diaspora and friends of Rwanda gathered in a dignified procession to honor the memory of the victims and pay tribute to those who stopped the genocide.

They placed wreaths at the stele as a gesture of solidarity and remembrance, which underscores the commitment to always remember and honour more than one million innocent victims cruelly slaughtered during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

A minute of silence was then observed, offering a moment for personal and collective reflection on the plight of atrocities and the resilience of survivors.

In his remarks, Ambassador James Ngango emphasized the significance of Kwibuka, a crucial moment to reflect on Rwanda's journey of economic transformation, reconciliation and nation building, thirty years after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was stopped by the Rwanda Patriotic Army under the command of H.E. Excellency Paul KAGAME, President of the Republic of Rwanda, and the imperative to prevent such atrocities from occurring again, in Rwanda or elsewhere.

Today’s Wreath Laying Ceremony at the memorial stele marked the commencement of a series of this year’s commemoration events across Switzerland and Austria, especially the 30^th commemoration events to be held at United Nations Office at Geneva and Vienna, on 15^th and 19^th April 2024, respectively. 

These events also include an International Conference themed: “combating Genocide denial, preserving historical memory, and the pursuit of fugitives” scheduled to be held on 15^th April 2024 at Palais des Nations, two hours before the Commemoration of the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Towards the end of the Wreath Laying Ceremony, Mr. Cesar Murangira, Ibuka Switzerland’s President reminded participants about other Commemoration activities across Switzerland, including the Memorial vigil in the Village Hall, Montbenon Casino, Lausanne on 13 April 2024;  a Walk2Remember from Palais Wilson to the Memorial Stele located at Place des Nations, Geneva on 15 April, 2024; a documentary screening Which traces the story of a survivor, Éric Eugène Murangwa, and others.  

Unveiled on 8th April 2019 in partnership with City of Geneva, the memorial stele stands in a well positioned location in the Place des Nations, as an enduring tribute to the victims and serves as a site for reflection and global appeal for the prevention of genocide, the fight against its denial and the maintenance of international peace and security.

Every year, throughout the commemoration period, the global community is reminded to visit the memorial stele, offering their own tributes and reflecting on the gravity of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.