As the world marked International Peace Day, Rwandan youth were urged to strive for peace in the country and the region.

At the national level, the day-themed "Peace Starts with Me” was celebrated at Parliament Buildings in an event attended by parliamentarians, representatives of local and international organisations as well as hundreds of young people drawn from all parts of the country.

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Speakers at the event acknowledged the role of young people in Rwanda’s liberation struggle which stopped the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and ushered in a new era of national unity.

"When we observe the International Day of Peace, we recognize that unity and resilience are a pillar of peace and sustainable development,” said Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Donatille Mukabalisa.

"This is an opportune occasion that reminds us of the value of peace for the global population and Rwandans in particular. It is also the right moment to reflect on everyone’s role, especially the youth, in continuing to strive for peace.”

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Drawing from Rwanda’s history, Mukabalisa noted that bad leadership leads to the lack of peace.

"The bad leadership that our country experienced enshrined discrimination, persecution, and isolation, which led us to the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. Another lesson from our history is that the youth played a role in the destruction of our country. But we also recognised that the role the youth played and continue to play in the reconstruction of our country is very important,” she said.

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The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Clarisse Munezero, said it is important for the older generation to engage young people on the value of peace.

"We have noted that threats to peace are not only the bullets, but anything that affects a person’s life negatively. Peace starts with you yourself, in your family and your neighbourhood,” Munezero said.

"What we ask of the youth is to find peace from themselves first, some of them still have trauma from our history. So, they need to have the courage to seek healing.”

International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.

The 2023 observance of the International Day of Peace coincided with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) summit to mark the mid-point milestone.

"Peace and the Sustainable Development Goals are inherently connected-laying the foundation for a prosperous and harmonious world,” said UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, Ozonnia Ojielo.

"Peace isn't just the absence of conflict; it's a state where justice, equity, and cooperation flourish.

"We acknowledge that peace starts at home, in our communities, and within our hearts. It's a collective endeavour, and through open dialogue and shared understanding, we can dismantle barriers to peace and construct bridges toward harmonious coexistence.”