INTERNATIONAL DAY OF REFLECTION ON THE 1994 GENOCIDE IN RWANDA.

 The international day of reflection on the 1994 Rwandan genocide was recognized as an international observance by the United Nations on April 7, 2004. Every year on the 7th of April marks the day of remembrance of the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi tribe by the Hutu tribe in Rwanda. Within 100 days, 800,000 people were slaughtered. From April 7 - July 15, 1994, armed militias murdered between 800,000 Tutsis and some moderate Hutus. Many murdered their own neighbours, often using machetes. Militias used sexual violence as a tool of genocide. Between 250,000 - 500,000 women were raped during the 100 day genocide.The United Nations General Assembly adopts resolution (A/RES/58/234) designating 7 April as the lnternational Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda and encourages "all member states, organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant international organizations, as well as civil society organizations, to observe the lnternational Day, including special observances and activities in memory of the victims of the genocide in Rwanda. On January 26th 2018,  the United Nations General Assembly adopts draft resolution (A/72/L.31) designating 7 April as the lnternational Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. It also recall that during 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, Hutu and others who opposed it were also killed. On 20th April 2020, the United Nations General Assembly requests, in its resolution (A/RES/74/273) that the Secretary - General modify the title of the outreach programme to " outreach programme on the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and the United Nations " and to take measures to mobilize civil society for remembrance and education in the context of the lnternational Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, in order to help prevent future acts of genocide. The date, 7 April, marks the start of the 1994 genocide which lasted for the 100 day period to mid July 1994. Every year, on or around that date, the United Nations organizes commemorative events at its headquarters in New York and at United Nations offices around the world. Rwanda has two public holidays mourning the genocide. The national mourning period begins with kwibuka (remembrance), the national commemoration, on 7 April and concludes with liberation day on 4 July. (Source: UN).

#Rwandagenocide #GenocidePrevention #genocideawareness #GenocideWatch #genocide1994 #unnigeria #UnitedNations #unitednationsorganization #sdg16 #UnitedNationsSecurityCouncil.

 BRIEF PERSONAL PROFILE OF ENOBONG EKWERE - SOCIAL ACTIVIST/ DEVELOPMENT EXPERT IN NIGERIA.

Comrade Enobong Ekwere is a social influencer, blogger, vlogger, human rights activist, peace practitioner, grassroot social mobilizer, SDGs advocate and a global citizen. Enobong Ekwere also have vast knowledge and professional expertise in copy writing, content creation, online and offline media campaigning. He is the program manager of children and young people living for peace (CYPLP), an organic, volunteer of experts, youth focused and a think-tank non-governmental organization based in Kaduna state, Nigeria. A Higher National Diploma (HND) graduate of Public Administration (Upper Credit) from the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria. Enobong Ekwere holds a proficiency certificate in management from the Nigerian Institute of Management, Chartered (NIM) Lagos, Nigeria. He is also a graduate member of the institute (Associate member in view). He works with young people in local communities across Nigeria localizing the sustainable development goals (SDGs)  (SDG16+ SDG4 and SDG5 in particular) and positive peace frameworks in Nigeria, accelerating action online and offline, engaging duty bearers and policy makers to be accountable for it's implementation by 2030. He is a strong advocate of peace, good governance and democracy, accountability in government, freedom of information, freedom of expression, access to information, free press, social justice and social inclusion. As a youth advocate and a global leader who loves to see social reforms in the society, he uses his personalized blog to write compelling stories on developmental and topical issues on national and global concern that shapes and transform people's lives and impact the larger society for knowledge transfer and lifelong learning. He engages in community service and volunteerism, community outreach, social mobilization and advocacy tours to hard to reach local communities in Nigeria advocating and advancing the cause of the SDGs (SDG16+ SDG4 and SDG5 in particular) so that no community and youth in Kaduna state and Nigeria at large would be left behind. CYPLP as an organization works primarily in serving vulnerable population of children, youth, elderly persons, people living with disabilities (PLWD's) and women in unserved, underserved, underrepresented and marginalized local communities in Nigeria.

My areas of competence in peace education and peace building process includes;

1. Conflict mapping, sensitivity and analysis

2. Negotiation, mediation and reconciliation

3. Interreligious and intercultural dialogue

4. Protection of civilians

5. Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR)

6. Security sector reforms (SSR)

7. Mainstreaming gender in peace keeping

8. Mainstreaming gender in peace and state building

9. Crisis management/resolution

10. Media and conflict

11. Conflict and natural resources

12. Conflict prevention

13. Peace support operations (PSOs)

14. Post- conflict reconstruction and development

15. Humanitarian action

16. Transnational organized crime

17. Piracy and maritime security

18. Preventing violent extremism (PVE) etc.

Enobong Ekwere has an extensive professional working experience in projects such as;

1. PRELT (Prevention of radicalization and extremism leading to terrorism)

2. BRAVE (Building resilience against violent extremism)

3. iDOVE (Interfaith dialogue on violent extremism) in local communities across Kaduna state and Nigeria at large.

I have initiated two projects to counter religious and violent extremism among the youths in local communities in Nigeria, and one empowerment program, these are;

1. CAARE ( Countering Attitudes Against Religious Extremism)

2. CAAVE (Countering Attitudes Against Violent Extremism)

3. NEET (Not in Education, Empowerment or Training) an empowerment training program aimed at training vulnerable population of young people in local communities in Nigeria with leadership skills, entrepreneurial and vocational skills acquisition.

He can be reached via:

Tel/WhatsApp: +2347082558952

Email: julyenobong2020@gmail.com

            : enobongekwere825@gmail.com

MY PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:

FACEBOOK: 

https://www.facebook.com/enobong.ekwere.372

TWITTER: 

http://www.twitter.com/Enobongekwere2

INSTAGRAM: 

http://www.instagram.com/enobongekwere825

LINKEDIN: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/enobong-ekwere-3271b116b

MY ORGANIZATION'S SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:

FACEBOOK: 

https://www.facebook.com/cyplp.net.ng/

TWITTER: 

http://www.twitter.com/youngpeoplefor/

INSTAGRAM: 

http://www.instagram.com/cyplp/

WEBSITE: 

www.cyplp.net.ng

VOLUNTEER - INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (IHRC) GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.