U.N. General Assembly calls for urgent implementation of proposals to assist survivors of 1994 Rwandan genocide, including medical care, skills training, victim support
From the Department of Public Information of the U.N. General Assembly:
Recognizing the numerous difficulties faced by survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide — particularly orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence, many of whom had contracted HIV or since died of AIDS — the General Assembly today adopted a resolution requesting the Secretary-General to encourage relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to provide assistance in the areas of education, medical care, skills training and microcredit programmes aimed at promoting self-sufficiency.
Introducing the text on behalf of the African Group, Benin’s representative said it was imperative that, six years after the adoption of the first resolution on the matter, survivors of the Rwandan genocide were given the support they deserved.
The text — titled “assistance to survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly orphans, widow and victims of sexual violence” — had the Assembly calling on Member States and the United Nations to urgently implement the recommendations contained in the Secretary-General’s report of the same name. The Secretary-General was requested to continue outreach activities aimed at victim remembrance and education, with a view to preventing future acts of genocide.
By other terms, the Assembly noted the importance of residual issues, including witness protection and victim support, the archives of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and capacity-building for the Rwandan judiciary. Given the critical situation of survivors and need for the International Criminal Tribunal to implement its completion strategy, the Secretary-General was requested to take all necessary and practicable measures to implement the resolution and report to the Assembly’s sixty-sixth session with recommendations on further support to survivors.
