The United Nations Headquarters in New York on Wednesday, September 11, installed a monument for the remembrance of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The Kwibuka Flame of Hope monument honours more than one million lives lost in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and “serves as a powerful reminder of the shared responsibility to prevent such a tragedy from ever occurring again,” Rwanda’s Permanent Mission to the UN said in a statement. It is the first permanent tribute to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi installed at the UN Headquarters. ALSO READ: Kagame lights candle of Hope for Rwanda As leaders from across the globe gather in New York for the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, the installation of the Kwibuka Flame of Hope at the UN headquarters sends a significant, and timely message, officials said. “The Kwibuka Flame of Hope will burn forever as a visual reminder for the international community and the many visitors to the United Nations, about speaking out and countering all forms of hate speech,” said Melissa Fleming, the Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Global Communications, which manages the General Assembly-mandated Outreach Programme on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and the United Nations “It serves as a solemn reminder of the responsibility that we, as diplomats and representatives of the international community, bear in preventing atrocities. The flame urges us to act when confronted with the early warning signs of mass violence, to ensure that the lessons of Rwanda are not forgotten.” ALSO READ: 30 years on and the world has learnt no lessons from the Genocide against the Tutsi Despite warnings and pleas for intervention, in 1994, the world witnessed the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, which lasted for 100 days. The monument stands as a call for the international community to uphold the promise of “Never Again” with purpose and resolve, Ernest Rwamucyo, Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the UN said. “The Kwibuka Flame of Hope has long been a symbol of peace, justice, and unity—values that guide our healing and our commitment to unity and reconciliation. This monument holds profound meaning not only for Rwandans but also for the global diplomatic community,” Rwamucyo said. ALSO READ: Genocide ideology persists through denial, revisionism Located on the west side of the UN Gardens, the Kwibuka Flame of Hope consists of a grey foamcore flame extending from a bi-leveled black round base with the wording “The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda REMEMBER – UNITE – RENEW” and “KWIBUKA FLAME OF HOPE”. The monument reflects Rwanda’s dedication to combating genocide ideology, denial, and hate speech, while fostering a global commitment to ensuring that such atrocities are never repeated.
