The UNESCO Chair “Memory, Cultures and Interculturality” at the Catholic University of Lyon (UCLy) announced a significant new partnership with the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD). This collaboration will focus on research and training, marks a major step in the ongoing efforts to preserve the memory of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and promote reconciliation and understanding through education and scholarship.

The partnership, supported by the Rwandan Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement, aims to address critical issues related to the genocide and the ongoing work of remembrance and justice. One of the primary areas of focus will be the four Genocide Memorial Sites in Rwanda—Nyamata, Murambi, Bisesero, and Gisozi—which were added in 2023 to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage list. These sites are not only places of memory but also key symbols in the efforts to educate future generations about the horrors of genocide and the importance of human rights and tolerance.

The UNESCO Chair at UCLy, led by experts in the fields of memory studies, intercultural dialogue, and historical trauma, will collaborate with the ILPD to advance academic research on the history and impact of the Genocide against the Tutsi. The partnership will also foster training programs aimed at strengthening local capacity in Rwanda to engage with the legal, cultural, and social aspects of genocide memorialization.

In addition to academic and research initiatives, the partnership will focus on building bridges between Rwanda and international scholars, policy-makers, and civil society organizations. The collaboration will encourage the exchange of knowledge and perspectives on genocide prevention, conflict resolution, and the role of culture and memory in healing and rebuilding post-conflict societies.

The formalization of this partnership comes at a critical time, as Rwanda continues its efforts to heal and reconcile, nearly three decades after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. By supporting the preservation of memory through education, research, and dialogue, the UNESCO Chair and ILPD aim to contribute to the larger global conversation on human rights, justice, and reconciliation.

Both institutions are deeply committed to working together to ensure that the lessons of the Genocide against the Tutsi are never forgotten and that future generations are equipped with the tools to prevent such atrocities from occurring again. This partnership represents a unique opportunity to strengthen the international network of those working on memory, culture, and interculturality, and the Network congratulates both the UNESCO Chair and ILPD for their shared commitment to this vital work.