What happened in Rwanda concerns the whole of humanity. Education and the media were instrumentalized to transform ordinary citizens into killers. We must tirelessly transmit the history of the genocide, out of duty to the victims and to ensure that such atrocities never happen again. Everywhere, we must make education a powerful tool for remembrance, reconciliation and peace.
Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-General
April 7 2025 marks 31 years since the start of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in Rwanda. In the space of 100 days, nearly a million men, women and children, Tutsi, but also moderate Hutu and Twa, were murdered.
This year once again, the UNESCO headquarters hosted a commemorative ceremony in memory of the victims of the genocide. On this occasion, an initiative was announced to strengthen the educational dimension of Rwanda's memorial sites, in particular those of Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero, which will be inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023. It will be implemented in partnership with Aegis Trust and the Rwandan Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE).
UNESCO will send a team of around fifteen young researchers, multimedia professionals and Rwandan artists to enhance the memorial exhibitions and improve the signage. Emphasis will be placed on the 'living memory' of these sites through the digitization of interviews with survivors, documentary films and photographic projects.
The Organization will also train memorial staff in receiving and guiding school groups, connect them with staff at other memorials so that they can share their expertise, and help them to form partnerships with survivor associations and the educational community.
UNESCO will develop new educational content in Kinyarwanda, English and French for teachers and educators to help them prepare for their students' visits to the memorials. It will work with young Rwandan content creators to lead social media campaigns that will promote the memorial sites and help prevent the falsification of historical facts and online misinformation about the genocide.
Teaching about genocides, a priority for UNESCO
65% of the Rwandan population was born after 1994. UNESCO has been supporting the country's authorities for several years to pass on the memory of the genocide to younger generations. This UNESCO initiative is part of its International Programme on Holocaust and Genocide Education, run in conjunction with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Already implemented in 30 countries worldwide, it will be extended to around 20 more this year, with the support of Canada and the United States.
In this context, UNESCO has also published several tools for policy makers, teachers and education professionals. For example, the guide 'Teaching to Prevent Genocide: A Guide for Teachers in Africa' (in English) provides concrete recommendations to teachers on the African continent on how to teach about violent pasts in and out of the classroom.
About UNESCO
With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.
"Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed" - UNESCO Constitution, 1945.
