There are many indications that human rights and international justice are not priorities for President Donald Trump’s administration. As Foreign Policy has reported, one of the likely victims of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s reorganization and cuts at the State Department is the Office of Global Criminal Justice. This is the office that would, in theory, advise him and other government… Continue reading Are State Department cuts a major setback for genocide prevention?
Author: Gisele Iradukunda
The Path to Peace is Possible
Insights from Aegis Trust Programmes Director, Anita Kayirangwa: Over the last week in Kigali, more than 100 experts from Rwanda and around the world met to examine best practice peace education. Throughout the three days of intense debate and discussion, participants heard from a wide variety of speakers who shared insights into what kind of… Continue reading The Path to Peace is Possible
Memory in the digital age: King’s College London and the Aegis Trust hold conference in Rwanda
The King’s College London Digital Humanities Department and the Aegis Trust have brought together academic, private and public sector stakeholders from Rwanda and abroad to explore the implications, impact and transformative effects of digital archives and digitisation processes in understanding the genocide against the Tutsi and post-genocide reconstruction as well as supporting the country’s development.… Continue reading Memory in the digital age: King’s College London and the Aegis Trust hold conference in Rwanda
Genocide and the church: Pope’s call for forgiveness welcomed
Receiving Rwanda’s President in the Vatican on Monday, Pope Francis expressed ‘profound sadness’ over the genocide against the Tutsi and ‘implored anew God’s forgiveness for the sins and failings of the Church and its members, among whom [were] priests, and religious men and women who succumbed to hatred and violence, betraying their own evangelical mission’… Continue reading Genocide and the church: Pope’s call for forgiveness welcomed
Rwandan researchers commit to take findings to policy makers and the public
The Aegis Trust capacity-building workshop for Rwandan researchers has come to a close with participants committing to engage more critically with one another’s work. The workshop, which is part of Aegis’ Research, Policy and Higher Education programme, discussed the best approaches for conducting quality research as well as how to make their findings accessible to… Continue reading Rwandan researchers commit to take findings to policy makers and the public
Rwanda genocide commemoration: British High Commission and Aegis Trust
On 12 April at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the British High Commission and Aegis Trust commemorated the Genocide against the Tutsi. The UK Government was represented by the British High Commissioner to Rwanda, William Gelling, the Head of DFID Rwanda, Sally Waples, and staff from the British High Commission and British Council. The Aegis Trust… Continue reading Rwanda genocide commemoration: British High Commission and Aegis Trust
Rwanda’s model of democracy
Few would disagree that Rwanda’s progress in the post genocide period is credited to its unconventional approach to statecraft. That there was a heavy dose of trial and error especially in the early days and that gradually as success became predictable it removed whatever element of chance. And that in turn, this helped to build… Continue reading Rwanda’s model of democracy
Preventing genocide shouldn’t be a partisan issue
In this extremely divisive political climate there seems to be fewer and fewer opportunities to find common ground. Nearly everything today is politicized and partisan. But there is one issue that should have no opposition, no reason why we cannot garner widespread bipartisan support. That issue is genocide prevention. Genocide is humanity’s worst crime. The… Continue reading Preventing genocide shouldn’t be a partisan issue
Pope Francis seeking God’s forgiveness good but genocide survivors need more
On Monday, March 20, news came that Pope Francis had apologised for the Catholic Church’s role in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis. The deed followed President Paul Kagame’s visit to the Vatican where he reportedly compared notes with the Pontiff. Understandably, the gesture saw Rwandans hail the man of God for doing what his two… Continue reading Pope Francis seeking God’s forgiveness good but genocide survivors need more
Aegis Trust empowers Rwandan researchers to take lessons to the world
Aegis Trust’s department for Research, Policy and Higher Education (RPHE) held a two-day capacity-building workshop to support Rwandan researchers to share their knowledge and experience with the world. Themed ‘Research Methodologies, Publication, Dissemination and Uptake’, the workshop was attended by researchers, academics, policy-makers and practitioners. It took place at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Peace School,… Continue reading Aegis Trust empowers Rwandan researchers to take lessons to the world
The 1994 Genocide as Taught in Rwanda’s Classrooms
The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi saw the slaughter of more than one million people over the span of three months, and placed Rwanda at the forefront of the world’s political consciousness. Almost 23 years later, Rwanda has rebuilt and become a modern hub of progress and development, putting in place social, political and economic… Continue reading The 1994 Genocide as Taught in Rwanda’s Classrooms
Next goal for Seeds of Peace: Putting campers to work
Seeds of Peace, a US-based organization with over two decades of experience in the Middle East, is expanding to include a wider spectrum of actors. DEAD SEA, JORDAN — This may not seem like a propitious time for peace in the Middle East. But Seeds of Peace, which has become one of the region’s most… Continue reading Next goal for Seeds of Peace: Putting campers to work
In deeply divided Israel, Jewish and Arab women build case for peace
At a time when peace is not high on the Israeli public agenda, Women Wage Peace unites Arab and Jewish activists with a simple demand: that leaders just ‘reach an agreement.’ The 4,000 women gathered at the Qasr el Yahud baptism site in the Jordan River Valley to press for peace were a motley crew:… Continue reading In deeply divided Israel, Jewish and Arab women build case for peace
Creativity and resilience: how do war survivors make international justice work for them?
Creativity and resilience: how do war survivors make international justice work for them? A disempowering judgment by the Special Court for Sierra Leone should not blind us to how local activists still made use of its symbolic power. Steve Evans/flickr, CC BY-NC Kiran Grewal, Australian Catholic University This article is part of the Democracy Futures… Continue reading Creativity and resilience: how do war survivors make international justice work for them?
Why the media is a key dimension of global inequality
Why the media is a key dimension of global inequality Nick Couldry, London School of Economics and Political Science and Clemencia Rodriguez, Temple University This article is part of the Democracy Futures series, a joint global initiative with the Sydney Democracy Network. The project aims to stimulate fresh thinking about the many challenges facing democracies… Continue reading Why the media is a key dimension of global inequality
Strengthening community-level peacebuilding in Rwanda
Post-genocide Rwanda has been marked by efforts to rebuild the social fabric which was destroyed during the terrible events of 1994. To coordinate efforts of reconciliation the government established the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) in 1999. The NURC is a permanent body, protected by the constitution with a mandate to promote national unity… Continue reading Strengthening community-level peacebuilding in Rwanda
Learning Route on Securing Land and Water Rights: the cases of Senegal and Mauritania
PROCASUR, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and IPAR (Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurales) have announced a Learning initiative on Securing Land and Water Rights in irrigation schemes, as part of the cross regional component on Land Tenure Security and Natural Resource Management of the “Strengthening capacities and tools for scaling-up and disseminating innovations”… Continue reading Learning Route on Securing Land and Water Rights: the cases of Senegal and Mauritania
Internship Opportunity at UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
The internship is located in various units of the Governance Affairs Office within UN Environment, based in Nairobi, namely the Civil Society unit, Governing Bodies Unit and the Partnerships unit. The Governance Affairs office engages with and guides all relevant stakeholders ranging from Member States, major groups and stakeholders as well as business and the… Continue reading Internship Opportunity at UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
AFRIKA KOMMT! FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM 2016 – 2018
AFRIKA KOMMT is an initiative of German Industry for Future Leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa. German businesses, including several leading companies in their respective sectors offer young African managers an insight into their operations and management methods. GIZ plans, organises and evaluates the programme. During a 12-month stay in Germany, an 8-month internship in one of… Continue reading AFRIKA KOMMT! FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM 2016 – 2018
Scholarship at the University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is offering scholarships to excellent students from outside the EU/EEA who want to do a Master’s programme. Citizens of non-EU/EEA countries, who do not have a permanent residence status in the EU/EEA area can also apply. The fully funded scholarship will be granted for two years. All the scholarship students are… Continue reading Scholarship at the University of Helsinki
TRACE Scholar Programme
The University of Washington and TRACE International invite application for TRACE Scholar Program to pursue studies related to strategies and tools for increasing transparency and reducing corruption. The scholarship is available to an international lawyer from a developing country. Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in anti-corruption efforts and will write their LL.M. thesis on… Continue reading TRACE Scholar Programme
Research Fellowships
The USC Shoah Foundation is offering research fellowships. The main goal of the fellowships is to have projects that advance understanding of the cultural and societal dynamics that precipitate or deter genocide, offering knowledge that has practical application and benefit. The fellowships include: Center Research Fellowship that enables the recipient to spend one semester in… Continue reading Research Fellowships
Teachers have a crucial role to play in building social cohesion
Teachers have a crucial role to play in building social cohesion Yusuf Sayed, Cape Peninsula University of Technology 1994 was a deeply important year for South Africa. It ushered in a democratic society committed to the eradication of racism, sexism and all forms of discrimination. It brought political change that promised the building of a… Continue reading Teachers have a crucial role to play in building social cohesion
Central African Republic takes a small step towards peace – but a leap is what’s needed
Central African Republic takes a small step towards peace – but a leap is what’s needed Paul Jackson, University of Birmingham The signing of a major peace agreement by ten rebel groups in the Central African Republic is a welcome step towards peace after years of violent chaos. Things really began to get out of… Continue reading Central African Republic takes a small step towards peace – but a leap is what’s needed
Building peace in the South Caucasus through mutual respect for cultural heritage
Building peace in the South Caucasus through mutual respect for cultural heritage Bastien Varoutsikos, Harvard University Recent months have seen increasing deadly skirmishes between military forces along the Nagorno-Karabakh/Azerbaijan border in the South Caucasus. These tensions are rooted in the region’s 20-year-old armed conflict involving the states of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh, which has resulted… Continue reading Building peace in the South Caucasus through mutual respect for cultural heritage
The Atlantic Fellows Programme
The Atlantic Fellows Programme for Social and Economic Equity at the International Inequalities Institute is offering Atlantic Visiting Fellowship: an opportunity for teams of three or four senior academics and practitioners to come together and undertake an intensive period of research that will create high profile advances in both academic understanding and in, developing practical… Continue reading The Atlantic Fellows Programme
The peace dividend of educating women in the Middle East
The peace dividend of educating women in the Middle East Izzeldin Abuelaish, University of Toronto Lasting peace in the Middle East depends on empowering young women through education. By oppressing our young people and women, we don’t have a new generation that is full of ideas and full of change. According to a recent report… Continue reading The peace dividend of educating women in the Middle East
Aegis offers grants to Rwandan researchers
The Aegis Trust is pleased to announce a third call for proposals by Rwandan researchers as part of its Research, Policy and Higher Education programme. The programme supports Rwandan researchers to develop policy-relevant academic papers and associated policy briefs on a range of topics related to genocide prevention and peace building. The research grants are… Continue reading Aegis offers grants to Rwandan researchers