Rwandan, French civil society unite against Genocide denial

A day after the beginning of the 21st Commemoration of the Genocide Against the Tutsi, President Paul Kagame received European and Rwandan civil society working towards bringing awareness and justice to issues of genocide across the world. The groups received by the President are the European Grassroots Anti-racism Movement (EGAM) and the Associations of Rwandan students and graduates survivors of the Genocide, known in French acronyms as AERG and GAERG. Following their meeting with the President, the groups announced a new partnership between EGAM and AERG, GAERG and Ibuka aimed at fighting against Genocide denial. EGAM is made of young activists originating from nations such as France, Germany, Belgium, Croatia and Bosnia and works closely with the Rwandan community in France to denounce the role of the French Government during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Under the partnership agreement, EGAM will work closely with local civil society organisations to fight denial in France and the rest of Europe. The partnership’s goals and ambitions are in line with this year’s focus on fighting Genocide denial and revisionism and honouring those who rescued people during the Genocide. Involving parties against Genocide The head of the EGAM delegation, Benjamin Abtan, said the partnership would help in involving numerous activities and players in the fight against Genocide denial. “We have a strong partnership with the civil society such as AERG, GAERG and Ibuka. It is a way for us to be strong enough. It is the reason we have managed to know individuals, intellectuals, politicians, including members of parliament in France who have decided to get involved,” Abtan said. Youth from Rusororo Sector in Gasabo District pay tribute to Genocide victims laid to rest at Ruhanga Genocide Memorial Centre on Tuesday. (John Mbanda) Noting that there were already some efforts to fight Genocide denial in Europe, Abtan said they hoped that in the long run, the partnership would seek to have perpetrators brought to justice and the truth about the Genocide in Rwanda known. In the past, EGAM’s efforts led to the establishment of a Genocide memorial in Paris, France, in 2014, where mourners paid their respects during Tuesday’s commemoration. Charles Habonimana, the president of GAERG which is comprised of Rwandan graduates Genocide survivors, said the partnership will go a long way in increasing the involvement of Rwandans in the fight against Genocide denial abroad. The association, whose membership across the country is over 60,000, works to ensure a dignified preservation of memory of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as well as empowering members to be self-reliant. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Rwandan, French civil society unite against Genocide denial