An international conference was held on the 22nd of May 2024 by the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda and the Embassy of France at the Peace Palace in The Hague with the theme “Role of the International Criminal Justice in Upholding Accountability for the Crime of Genocide” and was organized in the context of the 30th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

The conference at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the international city of peace and justice in the Netherlands, featured distinguished speakers from the academia, policy-making and international organizations with renowned expertise on Rwanda and similar contexts.

The conference was moderated by Mrs Emiliya Viktorova, Senior Legal Officer at the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), and brought together over 100 participants, including politicians, diplomats, representatives of international organizations, scholars, policymakers, Rwandan diaspora in the Netherlands and Friends of Rwanda.

H.E. Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, Ambassador of Rwanda, and H.E. François Alabrune, Ambassador of France, opened the conference and welcomed the honourable guests, distinguished speakers and panellists.

The welcome remarks by the Ambassadors were followed by the speech of Judge Graciella Gatti Santana, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT).

The panel discussion brought together (1) Mame Mandiaye Niang, Deputy Prosecutor of International Criminal Court in The Hague, (2) Aimable Havugiyaremye, Prosecutor General at National Public Prosecution Authority of Rwanda, (3) Guillaume Lefevre Pontalis, Deputy Anti Terrorist Prosecutor of France and (4) Prof. dr. Carsten Stahn, Professor of International Criminal Law & Global Justice at Leiden University in the Netherlands, with different perspectives to share viewpoints with the audience at the Peace Palace today.

Quotes:

H.E. Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda:
“I hope that the debate will be as informative and interactive as possible, and could enable the diplomatic, academic and legal communities in The Hague to draw lessons from the 1994 genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi, and reflect on the best way to ensure accountability and to prosecute, in an effective manner, suspects of genocide.”

H.E. François Alabrune, Ambassador of the Republic of France:
"The international community witnessed the last genocide of the 20th century. This kwibuka, this commemoration participates in this work and this duty of memory. The duty to remember is not only to remember; it is remembering so as not to repeat. The duty to remember also means fighting against negationism."

Judge Graciella Gatti Santana, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT):
"It is the obligation of international judicial mechanisms to respond to requests for mutual legal assistance submitted by national authorities. The prompt exercise of this obligation is essential to guarantee the smooth running of national prosecutions for acts of genocide under universal jurisdiction."

Aimable Havugiyaremye, Prosecutor General at National Public Prosecution Authority of Rwanda:
"Our fight for justice is not for one day, one week or one year. Our fight is that of a lifetime, or perhaps even of several lifetimes, and each of us, in each generation, must do our part."

Guillaume Lefevre Pontalis, Deputy Anti Terrorist Prosecutor of France:
"I can assure you that in 2024 and in the years to come, judging will remain one of our priorities. New investigations, which are nearing completion, should lead to new trials in the years to come."

Prof. dr. Carsten Stahn, Professor of International Criminal Law & Global Justice at Leiden University in the Netherlands:
"In a debate like today, it is important to remember the genocide and the stories of survivors. But a commemoration is also an opportunity to reflect on the judicial dimensions of international criminal justice."

For detailed information about Kwibuka visit www.kwibuka.rw

Read / download the speech (French / English) of Ambassador Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe.

Read / download the speech of Ambassador François Alabrune.

Read / download the speech of Judge Graciella Gatti Santana.

Click here for the photo album of the photos taken during the commemorative ceremony.