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[Pages S2054-S2055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 122--OBSERVING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE
IN RWANDA
Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Kaine, Mr.
Cardin, Mr. Coons, Mr. Merkley, and Mr. Booker) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Res. 122
Whereas 25 years ago, between April and June 1994, an
estimated 800,000 Rwandans, most of them members of the
minority Tutsi community along with some politically moderate
Hutus, were killed in an organized campaign of genocide;
Whereas up to 2,000,000 people fled Rwanda as refugees,
1,000,000 were internally displaced, and of the survivors,
75,000 were children who lost one or both parents;
Whereas the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda
was dramatically scaled back as the genocide occurred, with
the United States and other nations failing to stop the
killings;
Whereas the genocide forced Rwandans to confront core
issues of ethnic and national identity, justice, peace,
reconciliation, and security;
Whereas the people and Government of Rwanda have taken
steps to foster peace and reconciliation;
Whereas Rwanda's position on the United Nations Development
Program Human Development Index continues to steadily
improve, although the nation remains one of the world's
poorest, positioned at 158 out of 189 countries and
territories requiring continued development assistance and
support; and
Whereas the people and Government of the United States
support the people of Rwanda in their aspirations for
continued economic growth, improved food security, better
health outcomes, protection of biodiversity, and fully
accountable governance: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) solemnly observes the 25th Anniversary of the genocide
in Rwanda, which began on April 6, 1994;
(2) recognizes the failure of the international community,
including the United States, to provide urgent assistance in
preventing and stopping the genocide;
(3) reaffirms that the people of the United States will
continue to stand with the people of Rwanda in their ongoing
journey towards reconciliation, peace, and open, inclusive,
and accountable governance;
(4) reaffirms its commitment to the Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, done at
Paris December 9, 1948;
(5) supports ongoing efforts to educate the people of the
United States, and around the world, about the genocide in
Rwanda, hoping to prevent the commission of any such future
occurrences in Rwanda or elsewhere;
(6) commits to continuing efforts to strengthen and support
Rwandan, United States, and other international institutions
and tribunals working to bring to justice those responsible
for the genocide; and
(7) calls on the United States Government and the
international community to seize on the occasion of this
anniversary to focus attention on the future of Rwanda,
cooperating to prevent and respond to genocide and crimes
against humanity in nations across the globe, and to support
the people of Rwanda so that they may--
(A) be free from future ethnic violence;
(B) experience full civil and human rights, without fear of
violence or intimidation;
(C) peacefully resolve disputes; and
(D) benefit from sustained economic growth and development,
which improves the health, prosperity and standard of living
of all.
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