New joint effort to fight genocide denial

As the clock ticks closer to the 20th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, four organisations have jointly rolled out a new programme tailored to promote healing and peace education.The Rwanda Peace Education Programme is a joint effort of the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace, Radio la Benevolencija, Shoah Foundation and Aegis Trust.The programme is designed to promote social cohesion through different approaches such as mobile exhibitions, radio programming, art events, debates and performances as well as education and training workshops. It is funded by the Embassy of Sweden.Speaking at the launch of the programme, Dr Vincent Biruta, the minister for education, said genocide is a product of constant spread of hate messages and ethnic divisions.“The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was a climax of an ideology of division and hatred that was imparted among the people from childhood, which led to the loss of more than a million lives and total disintegration of the country’s social fabric,” Dr Biruta said.“The genocide in Rwanda was a result of consistent messages of hate and ethnic divisions that was transmitted to population, and the youth in particular, in schools and communities where they lived. This programme is of interest to the government as it seeks to address the challenges the country has faced,” the minister added.Restoring social cohesionHe said efforts by government to restore, rebuild relations and promote social cohesion are visible through institutions put in place to promote peace and unity.“The Government of Rwanda has made significant progress in restoring relationships and rebuilding trust among Rwandans by strengthening unity and reconciliation and by establishing institutions such as the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission and the Gacaca justice system,” Dr Biruta said.Maria Hakansson, of the Embassy of Sweden, said the efforts are to benefit both current and future generations. “Sweden is pleased to be part of this programme and is convinced that combined efforts will lead to a greater impact in terms of building a better future,” Hakansson said.Serge Guillaume Nzabonimana, advisor to the Minister for Sports and Culture, said the programme will come in handy in combating Genocide denial. Aegis Trust country director Freddy Mutanguha said the programme is expected to equip and encourage young people to spend more time on initiatives that promote unity.“I recall what one of the students who visited the mobile exhibition in Huye during the pilot programme told Aegis Trust; that he felt more equipped to encourage his fellow youth to spend more time in activities that promote peace and unity. That is what we seek to achieve.”