Kwibuka31 commemorations in Switzerland began on Monday morning with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorial Stele located at the Place des Nations in Geneva. The event brought together members of the Rwandan community, Swiss authorities, United Nations representatives, and friends of Rwanda to honour the memory of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Organized by the Embassy of Rwanda in Switzerland and the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, in partnership with Ibuka Mémoire et Justice Section Suisse, the ceremony marked the official launch of a series of activities to mark the 31^st Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi the under the theme of “Remember – Unite – Renew.”

First Counselor and Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Edmond Tubanambazi delivered the official remarks on behalf of the Embassy of Rwanda. He thanked those in attendance for their solidarity with Rwanda and underscored the responsibility of the international community to commemorate and prevent genocide. He further recalled that the Genocide against the Tutsi represented the most tragic failures of the international community, a failure that continues even today in the form of lack of concrete actions in situations where genocide triggers have been well documented in the region. He condemned the ongoing propagation of genocidal ideology and hatred, and highlighted the need to prosecute genocide fugitives still living freely in various countries. “Each passing day without justice,” he stated, “is a prolonged denial of justice.”

César Murangira, President of Ibuka Switzerland, underscored the importance of connecting remembrance with present-day realities. He spoke about the parallels between the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and the current violence targeting Congolese Tutsi communities in eastern DRC. He warned of the international community’s silence in the face of this threat, calling for leaders to recognize and confront the dangers of unchecked hatred and incitement before history repeats itself again.

Representing the City of Geneva, Mayor Christina Kitsos paid tribute to the victims and acknowledged the international community’s moral failure in 1994. She emphasized that denial, forgetfulness, and silence are enemies of peace. In her remarks, she expressed Geneva’s commitment to standing with the Rwandan community and called for continued remembrance through culture, education, and human connection. 

Mr. Rolando Gómez, speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, affirmed the UN’s enduring commitment to genocide prevention and remembrance. He acknowledged that the genocide began long before the killings—with hate speech and incitement—and stressed the responsibility of the international community to combat racism, xenophobia, and all forms of discrimination. He commended Rwanda’s path of resilience, reconciliation, and nation-building.

Also delivering messages of solidarity were Mr. Laurent Selvi, President of CICAD, and Dr. Leon Saltiel of the World Jewish Congress. Both speakers reflected on the universal lessons of genocide, the dangers of denialism, and the shared obligation to safeguard truth and justice. They reaffirmed the importance of intercommunity solidarity in defending memory against distortion of truth and genocide denial.

As the ceremony concluded, participants were invited to attend upcoming Kwibuka31 events in Switzerland. On Friday, 12 April, a commemorative evening will be held in Lausanne. On Monday, 14 April, a high-level ceremony will take place at the United Nations Office at Geneva, co-organized by the Embassy and the United Nations Office at Geneva. That same day, a student conference on Kwibuka31 at the Palais des Nations will bring together young people to engage in discussions around genocide prevention, remembrance, peace, and responsibility to protect.

As Kwibuka31 activities continue, honouring the victims comforting genocide survivors means standing up for the truth, and re-committing to the shared global responsibility to prevent genocide.