The International Council of Museums, International Committee for Memorial and Human Rights Museums (ICMEMOHRI) 2024 meeting and conference started at Kigali Genocide Memorial, on Monday, July 29, with officials noting that it will showcase the vital role that African memorials and museums play in fostering sustainable peace, and human rights education.
Hosted by Aegis Trust, the conference brought together different participants including academics, government officials, and researchers. It is the first time such global think tanks – on museums and heritage issues – that define the museum professional’s standards, share scientific information, establish partnership with other organizations and develop recommendations for member countries are convening on the African continent.
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The two-day meeting follows a three-day conference dubbed "Listening and Leading: The Art and Science of Peace, Resilience and Transformational Justice”, which brought together 400 participants including scholars, policymakers, peacebuilders, among other high-ranking officials, in Kigali.
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On Monday, the ICMEMOHRI 2024 delegates, among other activities, visited Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum to learn more about the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda
Speaking on the significance of meeting in Africa, particularly in Rwanda, Jane E. Klinger, the chairperson of ICMEMOHRI, said: "The 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi provides the opportunity to focus on the work of African memorial and human rights museums and encourage an exchange of ideas, methodologies, and experiences used to present dissonant histories, human rights violations, and engage the affected communities.”
The meeting features discussions on topics such as the role of literature and graphic novels in addressing dissonant histories and events in a memorial or museum setting, and exploring the role of archives and the translation of testimonies into digital technologies.
Freddy Mutanguha, the Aegis Trust CEO and Director of Kigali Genocide Memorial, noted that hosting this annual forum for the first time in Africa is a historic moment given the country’s history and lessons it has to share with the world as regards strategically rebuilding a nation from the ashes.
"This conference is a unique opportunity to showcase the vital role that African memorials and museums play in fostering sustainable peace and human rights education. We are privileged to contribute to this important dialogue.”
At the memorial site, an exhibition demonstrating the important use of graphic novels was developed. From July 31 to August 1, delegates are expected to conduct site visits to genocide memorials in the country and to the National Ethnographic Museum in Southern Province.
The conference follows another one hosted by Aegis Trust last week themed "Listening and Leading: The Art and Science of Peace, Resilience and Transformational Justice”, which featured the launch of Isōko Peace Institute, a global institute of peace education that will be based in Rwanda to promote and share best practices for peacebuilding across the world.