Ibuka, the main organization of Rwandan genocide survivors, brought the question of survivors’ murders before both houses of the Rwandan parliament. According to Ibuka, twenty-six genocide survivors were murdered in 2009 in Rwanda. Nine women and several children are said to be among the victims.
The Hirondelle News Agency reports that owning a house remains the main concern for the 1994 survivors of the worst slaughter in modern history. More than 30,000 survivors are without decent housing.
Michelle Faust of the Associated Press reports on how Congolese survivors of rape shatter local taboos around talking about violence against civilians.
Mike Blanchfield of Canwest News Service reports on Canada’s decision to cut Rwanda from its roster of countries receiving development assistance. Canada’s new roster features a renewed focus on Latin America, which the Conservative government has identified as a key foreign policy priority.
In the run up to the 15th commemoration of the 1994 genocide, a Rwandan association, dealing with post genocide trauma, has reported an increase of mental health disorders among survivors of the 101-day slaughter.
Stephen Lewis, who penned the foreword for The Men Who Killed Me, speaks at the 10th annual Policy Forum of The Institute for Inclusive Security in Washington, DC, about the need for women’s participation at peace talks.
Out of the 309,368 survivors of the 1994 genocide still alive, more than one third are impoverished and need assistance, according to a report by the Rwandan government.
