Dealing with the past
At SOHEDEO-Amahoro Iwacu, we consider that in order to deal with the many and unresolved issues that date back to the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in Rwanda, particularly in the former French Turquoise zone, the impact of which is still widely felt today after 29 years, a sincere clear-eyed discussion around that painful past is of utmost importance.
The government of Rwanda, churches and many other interveners have put into practices many initiatives in attempts to heal the wounds inflicted on psyches of individuals subjected to years of sufferings, but still genocide survivors and communities are in desperate need of a comprehensive healing process.
In moving forwards towards peace, it is important that the legacies of genocide and violence are addressed. SOHEDEO – Amahoro Iwacu works on memory and narrative around conflict, to avoid them continuing to feed into the future by creating a fair society in the present and better prospects for sustainable peace and development.
SOHEDEO -Amahoro Iwacu intends to base its work on dealing with the past on four principles: the right to know, the right to justice, the right to reparation and the guarantee of non-recurrence via dialogues, the systematic collection of stories, documents and memories that will unveil many aspects of the past from different vantage. There is as well need to provoke dialogue among all generations and all communities in the former French Turquoise zone, and to empower younger generations to keep asking questions and looking for answers; the need to listen to and face personal accounts from all sides with open hearts and minds.