Staff at ACCORD’s head office in Durban, South Africa, joined the world in observing a moment of silence at 12h00 on 07 April 2011 in honour of those who perished in the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
Following the moment of silence, a discussion took place on the theme “Upholding Truth; Preserving our Dignity” in accordance with the United Nations (UN) declared theme for 2011’s commemoration of the Rwandan Genocide. Purple ribbons were worn on the day by staff to remember the many lives lost in 1994.
ACCORD’s Acting Operations Coordinator from its Burundi Office, Adelin Hatungimana, who was on a working visit to Head Office, spoke about the work that ACCORD undertakes in partnership with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to repatriate refugees in Burundi who fled the Burundi genocide in 1993. He encouraged everyone to continue to work towards conflict prevention and peace on the African continent.
Staff also represented ACCORD at an event which took place on 09 April 2011 when the Rwandan Student Association in Southern African and Friends of Rwanda held a Commemoration at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Pietermaritzburg Campus. The Rwandan National Anthem was sung and the audience observed a moment of silence for those who had perished; a prayer was said and songs sung, and a documentary on the Genocide was shown. The commemoration brought together a community of Rwandan diasporas living in Southern Africa.
ACCORD will continue in its mission to encourage and promote the constructive resolution of disputes by the peoples of Africa.
