8th May 2014
20 years after the genocide in Rwanda: Presentation and reflections on the judicial process
The Centre of Governance and Human Rights and RCN Justice & Démocratie co-host a discussion on the Rwandan genocide and the subsequent judicial process.
2014 highlights the commemoration of the genocide committed in Rwanda in 1994 – one of the most tragic events of the 20th century.
Following the genocide, with more than 100,000 suspects in prison and only 20 active magistrates, the Rwandese government and the international community must face the gravity and scope of the committed crimes. How can one judge the authors of these crimes? What are the legal sentences foreseen? What are the alternatives? How can one re-build a country where victims and genocidaires are bound to live together?
Panelists:
Martien Schotsmans: Legal Expert, Criminologist, Director RCN Justice & Démocratie. She worked in Rwanda between 1998 and 2000 during the trials related to the specialized chambers.
Hélène Morvan: in charge of the transmission of memory and conflict prevention project at RCN Justice & Démocratie. She has a long field experience on local conflict transformation in the Great Lakes region.
Andrew Swindells: freelance journalist and researcher. Since 1997, he has spent time investigating the work of the ICTR , Gacaca and national courts where cases are being heard. He has worked with genocide remembrance and survivor organisations IBUKA , Aegis Trust (UK), and the Rwandan National Commission for the fight against Genocide (CNLG). He has previously investigated the role of France in Rwanda.
Moderator: Dr Devon Curtis, University Lecturer, POLIS
Audio
Programme (with timings):
• Introduction from Dr Devon Curtis (00m:00s)
• Presentation of the memory transmission project of RCN Justice & Démocratie by Hélène Morvan (01m:44s)
• Audio testimonial of Gasana Ndoba (Rwandese human rights activist who alerted in 1990 the general public on the deterioration of the human rights situation in Rwanda) (08m:07s)
• Overview and analysis of the judicial process by Martien Schotsmans) (31m:01s)
• Presentation by Andrew Swindells on the international criminal trials, Gacaca courts and other legal processes. (01h:07m:00s)