More than three decades after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the country’s story is no longer defined only by tragedy, but also by survival, rebuilding, and educating a new generation on the dangers of hate speech.

The memory of that violence which lasted for 100 days and resulted in the murder of more than a million primarily Tutsi, but also Hutu and others who opposed the genocide, still lives in the voices of survivors.

The United Nations headquarters in New York commemorates the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, on the 7 April each year, bringing together survivors, officials, and civil society in remembrance of those who lost their lives and to honour those who survived.

“Today, we mourn the victims and honour their stolen dignity. We pay tribute to the survivors, whose resilience shows the strength of the human spirit,” said UN the Secretary General, in a statement read on his behalf at the commemoration event.

He added: “We must do more than remember the dead. We must protect the living — by defending truth and rejecting narratives that make violence seem acceptable. We must stand firm in our shared values, live up to our commitments, and strengthen institutions that can help prevent catastrophe. 

This, he said, “includes upholding the UN Charter and international law, without exception.”

Below we hear from two survivors who shared their stories of what they endured and how they chose to rebuild and advocate in memory of those lost.

Marcel Mutsindashyaka: A survivor’s journey to new beginnings

Marcel was only five years old when he survived the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, which cost him his family. 

“At five years old, my family was taken from me. I lost my father, my two brothers, my sister, and 27 members of my extended family,” he said.

Like other surviving children, he lived through the violence by moving from place to place and depended on strangers to hide and feed him. 

When the genocide ended in July 1994, Marcel, now an orphan, focused on his education.

“I grew up learning how to live with loss, but also how to rebuild with strength. [As] survivors, we were left to rebuild from nothing,” he said.

At the commemoration event in New York, Marcel called upon the international community to act against modern-day hate speech.  “Hate speech is spreading faster than ever. In 1994, hate was broadcast through RTLM radio. Today, that same danger has multiplied through social media, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence. Hate can reach millions in seconds.”

Marcel’s experience shaped his life and instilled in him a deep sense of purpose, resilience, and a commitment to becoming an empathetic leader dedicated to human dignity, justice, and education. 

Today, himself a father of two, he serves as President of the Ibuka USA, a survivor-led organization that supports genocide survivors and organizes remembrance events across the United States to honour the victims and educate current and future generations about the genocide.

A Fulbright Scholar and Yale World Fellow, Marcel leads in advancing digital transformation, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence initiatives that support educational research, and innovation.

For Marcel, resilience is in how he and other survivors rebuilt their lives: “We chose life. We chose unity. We chose hope. We rebuilt families, communities, and nations. That is resilience.” 

Serge Gasore: From running for survival to building a life of purpose

Like many survivors, Serge carries memories of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. 

He was only eight years old when the violence started, forcing him to endure the profound loss of his family. 

“That night, everything changed. Our neighbours, people we had lived with and trusted, turned against us. Houses were burning on the hill above our village. The sky was filled with smoke. The screams of those being killed echoed through the hills,” said Serge.

“As a child, I did not understand what was happening. I only knew that people were running, crying, and dying, and I had to follow, to hide, to survive. We ran to a place we believed would protect us. That place was Ntarama Catholic Church.

He sat next to his grandmother. When they started moving towards the altar, a grenade exploded and struck his grandmother.

“I can still remember the taste of her blood. I can still remember standing there, frozen, knowing I was next. As a child, I could not run. I could not scream. I could not understand. I could only stand there and watch everything fall apart. In that moment, I stopped being a child. That day, I lost everything,” he said.

“I lost my grandmother, Caroline. I lost my brothers, Fils, Eric, and Rukara. I lost family members, neighbors, and friends. The people who made my world feel normal were suddenly gone,” he continued.

When the killings stopped, Serge slowly started to rebuild – through school and through sport.

“Sports became my refuge. Through running, I found not only healing, but a way forward. What began as something simple became a path that opened doors, earned me a scholarship, and brought me to the United States for my education,” he said. 

With time, support and opportunity, he rebuilt his life. His experiences shaped his lifelong commitment to promote understanding.

Serge continues to share his testimony internationally to raise awareness about the consequences of hatred and the importance of preventing genocide. He is the author of My Day to Die: Running for My Life, a memoir recounting his journey of survival, resilience, and hope. 

Today a father himself, he is the founder of Rwanda Children, an organization that supports vulnerable children in Rwanda through education and reconciliation.

“Today, as a survivor and founder of Rwanda Children, a nonprofit serving over 1,500 people daily, I work to support genocide survivors and vulnerable families through healing, education, and programmes that promote unity, reconciliation, and dignity.”

The UN Secretary-General called upon countries to become parties to the Genocide Convention without delay and to implement it fully: 

 “The UN stands with the people of Rwanda. And we stand with all those, everywhere, who refuse to surrender their future to fear, division, or silence. Let this day reaffirm our commitment to remember, to listen, and to act. With history as our guide, and the prevention of genocide as our goal.”