On Sunday 6 February 2011, “De mannen die mij hebben vermoord” (Dutch edition of “The Men Who Killed Me”) was launched at Nationaal Monument Kamp Vught, one of three former World War II-era concentration camps in the Netherlands.
After an introduction by Anne-Marie de Brouwer, co-editor of the book – explaining how the book came about and reading out passages of testimonials of survivors of sexual violence featured in the book – a short movie with images from the genocide, including survivors of sexual violence, was played.
Denise Uwimana, who endured the Rwandan genocide and later worked as a social worker at Solace Ministries supporting other survivors, shared her story of survival. Uwimana, late into pregnancy during the genocide, miraculously survived the events of 1994 with her children.
The book was then presented to Dutch Member of Parliament Kathleen Ferrier. Ferrier explained what the Dutch government is doing to try to prevent sexual violence in conflict, including by ensuring more women serve in peacekeeping missions. She also called for awareness, mutual respect and action.
The accompanying photo-exhibition was subsequently launched. The exhibited photos include images taken by Canadian Samer Muscati of genocide survivors, some of whom have testimonials featured in “The Men Who Killed Me”/“De mannen die mij hebben vermoord”. The exhibition will be at Nationaal Monument Kamp Vught until 27 March 2011. On 27 February and 27 March the movies “Shooting Dogs” and “A Sunday in Kigali”, respectively, will be shown there, and will be followed by a discussion with board members of the Mukomeze Foundation.
The book “De mannen die mij hebben vermoord” (€24,50) is available from Wolf Legal Publishers. You can also send an e-mail to sales@wolfpublishers.nl to order the book. Proceeds of the book go to the Mukomeze Foundation, an organization that supports women and girls in Rwanda who survived sexual violence (www.mukomeze.nl).
For more information about the exposition at Nationaal Monument Kamp Vught, click here.
For an impression of the book launch and opening of the exhibition on 6 February 2011 at Nationaal Monument Kamp Vught, see the photos on this site.
Photo taken by: Jan van de Ven
