Note to Correspondents

Commemorative Events for International Day of Reflection on 1994 Rwanda

Genocide to Be Held at United Nations Headquarters, 7 April

A candle-lighting ceremony to commemorate the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda will be held at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Wednesday, 7 April. 

The ceremony will feature music performed by young Rwandan and international musicians to accompany remarks by Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro; the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda to the United Nations, Eugène-Richard Gasana; the Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, Susan E. Rice [to be confirmed]; the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Francis Deng; the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, Edward Luck; and Rwandan genocide survivor, Jacqueline Murekatete.  

The ceremony, which is being organized by the Department of Public Information's Outreach Programme on the Rwanda Genocide and the United Nations, together with the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the United Nations, will be held in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Chamber of the North Lawn Building from 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The ceremony will be followed from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. by a film screening of "As We Forgive" (www.asweforgivemovie.com), a documentary about the power and pain of reconciliation in Rwanda, with a post-screening discussion with the film's director, Laura Waters Hinson, and genocide survivor Yvette Rugasaguhunga, to be moderated by the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, Mr. Luck.

Both events are open to United Nations staff, accredited media, delegates and invited guests.  Those without United Nations grounds passes and Missions requesting VIP seating for Ambassadors and their guests must RSVP by Monday, 5 April, to nolte@un.org.  United Nations staff do not need to RSVP.

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For information media • not an official record