Crif - The 30th commemoration of genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda

30 years ago, on April 7, 1994, the massacre of more than a million Tutsi women, men and children began in Rwanda.

 

Like every year, the remembrance ceremonies took place in Paris. A first commemoration was organized at UNESCO, at the initiative of the Ambassador of Rwanda to France, His Excellency François Nkulikiyimfura.

 

Nathalie Cohen-Beizermann, vice-president of Crif, was present at UNESCO and represented Crif President Yonathan Arfi who was traveling to Kigali, Rwanda, alongside Minister Stéphane Séjourné.

 

 

In the afternoon, IBUKA France and the Paris City Hall organized a ceremony in the Garden of Memory in Choisy Park, in the 13th arrondissement of the capital.

 

The President of IBUKA France Marcel Kabanda opened the commemoration, recalling the chilling historical facts of the months of horror of 1994.

 

A young woman, daughter of a genocide survivor, then testified and underlined the importance for younger generations to become bearers of this memory.

 

Students from Duruy college also spoke to recount their meeting with a survivor of the massacres.

 

The floor was also given to the Paris Shoah Memorial and to the President of the UEJF Samuel Lejoyeux.

 

Finally, the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and the Secretary of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou also gave speeches.

 

 

Crif was represented by Marie-Sarah Seeberger, in charge of International Affairs.