Commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda

7 April 1994 marks the beginning of the genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda perpetrated by the Hutu extremist-led government. Within the following 100 days, more than 800,000 members of the Tutsi minority were systematically murdered. Moderate Hutus and others who opposed the killings were also killed during that period. In 2003, the United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed 7 April the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda.

Commemorating this important anniversary and honoring the many victims and survivors of the genocide, UNESCO will organize a ceremony on 7 April 2024 at UNESCO Headquarters. The event will be opened by the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Ms Stefania Giannini, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda in France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, H.E. Mr François Nkulikiyimfura. The event will further include survivor testimonies as well as a performance under the direction of Rwandan artist Yannick Ndoli.

The ceremony is organized in cooperation with the Permanent Delegation of Rwanda to UNESCO and Ibuka France.