On April 18^th, 2024, the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD), alongside staff, students, alumni, stakeholders, friends, and neighbors converged for the 30^th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The event was held at ILPD's premises, served as a testament to the enduring commitment of the community towards fostering peace, justice, and reconciliation in Rwanda.

The commemoration commenced with a symbolic gesture as participants embarked on a “walk to remember” from ILPD to the Nyanza Genocide Memorial Site and back. This act of unity and remembrance was a solemn tribute to the more than 31,500 innocent lives lost three decades ago. Upon reaching the Nyanza Genocide Memorial Site, a minute of silence was observed, allowing participants to pay their respects and honor the memory of the victims. Wreaths were solemnly laid at the resting place.

Back at ILPD, the Rector of the Institute of Legal Practice and Development, Dr. Aimé Muyoboke Karimunda together with Honorable Sanator George Mupenzi proceeded to the next activity; lighting the flame of remembrance, a sign of a bright future of Rwanda and shared it to all the participants.

In his welcoming remarks, the Rector emphasized that commemoration of the lives of the victims of the genocide against the Tutsi is the duty of the entire humanity regardless of the country of origin. He recalled that “Lawyers fully understand the duty to prevent and the duty to protect that are enshrined in the 1948 UN Convention against Genocide and that “Commemoration sends a reminder that in the case of genocide against the Tutsi, all UN State members including Rwanda failed to enforce the said convention and prevent or protect the lives of the Tutsi in Rwanda. We should never fail again, neither here nor elsewhere...”

Dr Muyoboke also recalled that “commemoration reminds us of the heroism of the Rwandese Patriotic Army, led by President Paul Kagame. An army of young Rwandans who stood up against the evil and the entire international community that was either silently or actively accomplice of genocide and this army said “no to genocide”. By stopping genocide, the Rwandese Patriotic Army gave back the country to all Rwandans and it lighted the flame of hope.” In this regard, he reminded the ILPD Community especially the students that on 17 May 2011, His Excellency the President of the Republic, when officiating the first graduation of ILPD and inaugurating the Institute’s premises, asked past and present members of ILPD to always be guided by the values “of honesty, humility, fairness and civility” and always to regard themselves as torch bearer.

Participants gathered to engage in a deeper understanding of Rwandan history, as Honorable Senator Mupenzi George delivered a compelling discourse. His elucidation of historical contexts and socio-political dynamics provided invaluable insights into the roots of the genocide, underscoring the imperative of confronting the past to build a more resilient future.

The Senator detailed the historical context of Rwanda, focusing on how divisions and animosity were fostered among its people during the Belgian colonial rule and through the first and second republics. He further criticized the shortcomings of the UN peacekeepers and the role of France in failing to prevent the massacre of Tutsis in 1994.

Jean Baptiste Niyitegeka, a representative from IBUKA in Nyanza district urged the ILPD to undertake research into the role of lawyers in the preparation of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. He highlighted specific laws from the first and second republics that stripped Tutsis of their rights to land and citizenship. Niyitegeka emphasized that such studies would greatly aid in uncovering the extensive premeditation of the genocide. Although ILPD was established after the genocide, he requested that its leadership construct a 'Genocide Never Again' monument on campus. This monument would serve to educate the international community attending ILPD about the truth of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

Musare Vincent de Paul, a genocide survivor in Nyanza, shared his poignant testimony to the participants. His harrowing accounts serving as stark reminders of the human cost of hatred and intolerance. Through his narratives of resilience and hope as a survivor imparted profound lessons in forgiveness and reconciliation, inspiring all present to strive for a future defined by unity and healing.

The commemoration ended with a screening of the film "One of the Thousand Hills," a cinematic portrayal of Rwanda's journey towards reconciliation and renewal. This marked the second screening of the film in Rwanda. The movie tells the stories of three children—Fidéline, Olivier, and Fiacre—from Mushirarungu Hill in Nyanza District, who tragically perished in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Also, it narrates the compelling journey of unity and reconciliation within the survivors and genocidal.