Rwandans have been urged to use various platforms, including social media, to counter Genocide denial and trivialisation.

Speaking at a conference on policy and practice of commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Kigali, yesterday, the Minister for Sports and Culture, Julienne Uwacu, said doing so would inspire commitment toward a real ‘never again’ spirit.

As part of the prelude activities to Kwibuka21 commemoration week– starting next Tuesday, Never Again Rwanda (NAR), organised the conference to rally the youth to fight Genocide denial, promoting societal healing and reconciliation in society.

"This conference should inspire our commitment to a real never again-genocide. Rwandans will not allow anything to draw us back by interfering with our achievements. We have come from far and have reached far higher, but we still have a long way to go—especially in fighting Genocide denial. We have to exploit new technologies to win the battle,” Minister Uwacu said.

She reminded the youth of the importance of the forthcoming commemoration and urged them to comfort broken hearts of the survivors.

Uwacu also urged the youth to encourage Genocide perpetrators to confess the truth, which she said will help defeat denials.

Dr Deogene Bideri, the legal advisor in the Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), said efforts to fight Genocide denial are being done through awareness campaigns worldwide.

Noting that most Genocide deniers are outside the country, he said efforts include persuading countries and the international community to set up mechanisms against denial of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

"Today, apart from Rwanda, there isn’t any other country that has the law preventing denial of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, but there are laws everywhere preventing [denial] of the 1940s Jewish Holocaust. We want to make the same principle apply to Genocide against the Tutsi too,” he said.

Dr Bideri said people have started using Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and other social platforms to spread Genocide denial and persuade others to believe them; unlike before when it was done mainly through publications.

Bideri told the youth that Genocide denial is intentional, not ignorance of the truth, and asked them to use social media to counter it.

"You have smart phones, and you use computers, therefore you can counter genocide denial by explaining the truth whenever someone is distorting our history. Don’t be only reactive, but also proactive to state the facts to those who may or may not appreciate them,” he said.

The participants committed to using several avenues to prevent distortion of Rwanda’s history.

"We have known the methods used by Genocide deniers and we have been responding to them through the same platforms they use. We are going to do more by creating many web pages and timely responses to any false post about our history,” said Felix Manzi, a member of NAR.

The director of NAR, Prof. Naasson Munyandamutsa, reminded the youth to break solitude, heal wounds and be creative to fight Genocide denial during and after the commemoration period.

Every year, NAR holds a national conference targeting the youth to discuss, learn and reflect on the Genocide against the Tutsi. Yesterday’s conference brought together about 140 youths, members of the civil society and government representatives.

With nearly 13 years working in Rwanda, Never Again Rwanda is one of the leading national peace building organisations.

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