Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Rwanda









William Hague and Angelina Jolie visit Kigali Memorial to honour victims of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide



26 Mar 13 - UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie this morning visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda’s capital to honour the memory of all those murdered in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.
The Memorial was established in 2004 by the UK-based Aegis Trust for genocide prevention, working in partnership with survivors and the Rwandan authorities. Today it plays a key role in peace-building education, bringing together children of survivors and perpetrators to help strengthen community stability and resilience against the potential for violence in the future. The British Government is looking to support that work, which was profiled in the Guardian last week. Aegis also provides essential support to survivors of the genocide in greatest need; orphans, widows and gang-rape victims among them.
In just a 100 days, from April to July 1994, a million Rwandans were murdered simply because they were identified as ethnically Tutsi. UN peacekeepers were in Rwanda at the start of the genocide, but instead of being reinforced and mandated to stop the killing, much of the force was withdrawn. It has come to be regarded as one of the international community’s worst failures in modern times to protect people at risk of mass atrocities.
Some 250,000 of those killed lie in mass graves at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where William Hague and Angelina Jolie placed wreaths and stood in silent reflection.
They were visiting the Memorial ahead of a journey to the D.R. Congo, where they will highlight the terrible human cost of warzone rape, meeting survivors and calling for Governments worldwide to address this neglected and growing problem.
Before leaving the memorial, Hague and Jolie viewed Aegis' documentation programme, the Genocide Archive of Rwanda. Its work includes documentation of rape and violence against women. Yves Kamuronsi, Archive Manager, explained how Rwandans and researchers from around the World will use the archive to better understand the causes genocide, using this research and evidence to inform upstream prevention strategies such as community reconciliation processes and social cohesion to promote stability.
"The Aegis Trust was honoured to host Mr Hague and Ms Jolie on their visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial today. Survivors across the country will be encouraged by their commitment to prevent mass atrocities," says Freddy Mutanguha, Head of Country for Aegis in Rwanda and himself a survivor of the genocide.
"Used as a weapon of genocide in Rwanda, we have observed how trauma and other consequences of rape last for generations,” says Dr James Smith, Chief Executive of the Aegis Trust. “Rape often occurs in times of conflict; the perpetrators exert domination by targeting women. We applaud William Hague and Angelina Jolie for their efforts to bring renewed international attention and to seek better ways to safeguard women in times of crisis.”
The Aegis Trust aims to prevent genocide worldwide. By joining Aegis, you can help this important work to continue: http://support.aegistrust.org/joinus/
















Here with Sosthene


 Here with Fabiola!









FCO Storify
The Foreign Secretary and Angelina Jolie visit Nzolo camp



FCO

William Hague and Angelina Jolie visit Rwanda














The UK Foreign Secretary and UNHCR Special Envoy arrived in Kigali on 24 March at the beginning of a visit to Rwanda and the DR Congo.
The UK Foreign Secretary and UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie arrived in Kigali on 24 March at the beginning of a visit to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mr Hague and Ms Jolie are joining forces again to highlight the terrible human cost of warzone rape, and to call for Governments worldwide to address this neglected and growing problem.












The UK Foreign Secretary, Mr William Hague
The UK Foreign Secretary, Mr William Hague visits Eastern DRC
In Kigali, Mr Hague will meet Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo, to discuss the need for a lasting solution to the conflict in Eastern DRC, as well as other bilateral issues. He and Ms Jolie will also visit the Genocide Memorial, to pay their respects to the victims of the 1994 genocide. In Eastern DRC, they will meet survivors of rape and sexual violence and the local organisations and UN bodies supporting them.
The UK is determined to work closely with countries including Rwanda and the DRC to deliver a durable solution to the current conflict, for regional stability.
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