The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda is annually observed across the globe on 7th April to honour the memory of the victims of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi, Hutu and others who opposed it in Rwanda.
- 7th April 2023 marks the 29th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/58/234 on 23rd December 2003 and designated the 7th April as the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda.
ii.Since 2004(which marked the 10th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda), the 7th April has been observed as the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda.
Amendment of observance title:
i.On 26th January 2018, The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the draft resolution A/72/L.31, designating 7 April as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
- On 20th April 2020, UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/74/273 and reaffirmed the 7 April of every year as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
ii.The resolution also modified the title of the outreach programme to “Outreach programme on the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and the United Nations”.
1994 Rwandan Genocide:
i.The 1994 Rwandan genocide occurred between 7th April 1994 and 15th July 1994 during the Rwandan Civil War.
ii.More than 1 million members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group, as well as some moderate Hutu and Twa, were systematically murdered by armed militias during the 100 days long genocide.
- 7th April, marks the beginning of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi minority by the Hutu extremist-led government.
