Rwanda Commemoration Project
April 7, 1994 marked the beginning of the Rwandan genocide, when an estimated 800,000 people were killed in a carefully organized program of genocide over 100 days, while the international community largely remained silent. The United Nations subsequently declared April 7th as the "International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda." Every year, on or around that date, communities around the world organize and participate in commemorative activities.
In 2004, the Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law launched the Rwanda Commemoration Project, an initiative designed to encourage law schools, universities, NGOs, community groups, and others to hold events to commemorate the anniversary of this modern-day genocide, and to use it as a lesson, reminder, and call to action regarding genocide in our time. The Project developed a resource booklet containing programming ideas, substantive issues for discussion, and a list of resources for additional learning. The project also developed a lesson plan for use in high schools to teach about the lessons of genocide, using Rwanda as the primary example. The lesson plan eventually inspired the development of the Center’s flagship Genocide Teaching Project.
Download the full resource booklet.