A resolution observing the 25th Anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda.

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 122 Observing the 25th Anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 27, 2019 Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. KAINE, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. COONS, Mr. MERKLEY, and Mr. BOOKER) submitted the fol- lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Rela- tions RESOLUTION Observing the 25th Anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. Whereas 25 years ago, between April and June 1994, an esti- mated 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; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Mar 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR122.IS SR122 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 122 IS Whereas the genocide forced Rwandans to confront core issues of ethnic and national identity, justice, peace, rec- onciliation, 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 Develop- ment 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 assist- ance 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, bet- ter health outcomes, protection of biodiversity, and fully accountable governance: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) solemnly observes the 25th Anniversary of 2 the genocide in Rwanda, which began on April 6, 3 1994; 4 (2) recognizes the failure of the international 5 community, including the United States, to provide 6 urgent assistance in preventing and stopping the 7 genocide; 8 (3) reaffirms that the people of the United 9 States will continue to stand with the people of 10 Rwanda in their ongoing journey towards reconcili- 11 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Mar 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR122.IS SR122 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 122 IS ation, peace, and open, inclusive, and accountable 1 governance; 2 (4) reaffirms its commitment to the Convention 3 on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of 4 Genocide, done at Paris December 9, 1948; 5 (5) supports ongoing efforts to educate the peo- 6 ple of the United States, and around the world, 7 about the genocide in Rwanda, hoping to prevent the 8 commission of any such future occurrences in Rwan- 9 da or elsewhere; 10 (6) commits to continuing efforts to strengthen 11 and support Rwandan, United States, and other 12 international institutions and tribunals working to 13 bring to justice those responsible for the genocide; 14 and 15 (7) calls on the United States Government and 16 the international community to seize on the occasion 17 of this anniversary to focus attention on the future 18 of Rwanda, cooperating to prevent and respond to 19 genocide and crimes against humanity in nations 20 across the globe, and to support the people of Rwan- 21 da so that they may— 22 (A) be free from future ethnic violence; 23 (B) experience full civil and human rights, 24 without fear of violence or intimidation; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:18 Mar 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR122.IS SR122 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 122 IS (C) peacefully resolve disputes; and 1 (D) benefit from sustained economic 2 growth and development, which improves the 3 health, prosperity, and standard of living of all. 4 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:44 Mar 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR122.IS SR122 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS