A monument honoring the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda has been permanently installed at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The Kwibuka Flame of Hope, unveiled on September 11 in the north garden area, symbolizes the resilience and strength of the Rwandan people in the wake of the genocide, where over one million people—primarily Tutsi, along with Hutu and others who resisted the violence—were systematically killed.
The flame serves as a reminder to the international community of the dangers of hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation, which exacerbated ethnic tensions and fueled the genocide.
“The Kwibuka Flame of Hope will burn forever as a visual reminder for the international community and the many visitors to the United Nations on the need to speak out and say no to hate,” said Melissa Fleming, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Global Communications.
Standing approximately 267 cm tall and 213 cm in diameter, the monument features a grey foamcore flame atop a black bi-level base, inscribed with the words, “THE 1994 GENOCIDE AGAINST THE TUTSI IN RWANDA REMEMBER — UNITE — RENEW” and “KWIBUKA FLAME OF HOPE.”
The statue is the first permanent tribute at the United Nations to honor the victims of the genocide and is visible from the Visitors’ Plaza.
The term Kwibuka, which means “to remember” in Kinyarwanda, denotes the annual mourning period from April 7, the start of the genocide, to July 4, Rwanda’s Liberation Day.
The unveiling of the monument comes ahead of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week, which includes the Summit of the Future, a crucial moment for world leaders to discuss global issues and forge new international agreements.
“This is also a tribute to the immense courage and resilience needed to rebuild after such a profound loss and trauma,” added Fleming, underscoring the statue’s significance not only as a memorial but also as a testament to Rwanda’s ongoing recovery.
