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Teaching of Genocide Philosophy in Schools Raises Questions of United Nations Funding in Post-Genocide Rwanda

According to a recent Rwandan parliamentary investigation, some schools in Rwanda still teach the ideas and hatred which allowed for the 1994 Genocide to occur. In response to these findings the Minister of Education in Rwanda, Dr. Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya, ordered all teachers that were found responsible for the teaching of genocidal ideologies by the court system to be fired from their positions. According to the investigators, it was found that in some schools children were made to wear different uniforms according to their ethnic group. Beyond this obvious form of hatred there were also many history books that supposedly distorted the truth specifically about the mass killings of the Tutsi people by Hutu extremists in 1994. The Ministry of Education took action after the report was unveiled. However, the Parliament believes that not enough was done over the past few years to stay vigilant about uncovering this practice of false teaching and eliminating it [1]. With findings like these the question must be raised as to what has truly changed since the end of the genocide, and for that matter should we rethink the way we deal with the aftermath of all genocides?

Meanwhile, the government has tried its best to eliminate any sort of ethnic division within Rwanda. For example, any reference to ethnicity has been removed from official identification cards. Instead, nationalism has been used to promote a singular Rwandan identity as opposed to separate ethnic identities. Beyond these measures former Hutu militiamen who fled the country after the genocide have been welcomed back into the country with seemingly open arms. Unfortunately, it was the opinion of the Rwandan parliament that Dr. Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya, the Minister of Education, was not cooperating enough with the investigators. Mujawamariya has been called to testify in front of the committee on several occasions as well as speak directly to the Parliament as a whole. During these meetings she has given contradicting statements in response to her knowledge of the teaching of genocidal ideologies. In the first interview given by Mujawamariya, she stated that she had organized training sessions for teachers to learn how to teach the controversial writings of late former president Juvenile Habyarimana whose assassination was a catalyst for ignited the 1994 Genocide. The reason these writings were to be taught was for children to learn about the propaganda that surrounded the genocide in order to more fully understand what happened. But in a second interview with the minister it was determined that she could not produce evidence which proved that these training sessions even took place, calling into question the validity or her previous statements [2].

The IIJD applauds the efforts of the parliament in successfully revealing the hatred that was still being taught in schools, as well as the efforts of the Ministry of Education in fairly taking appropriate action against those responsible. At the same time, we are disappointed with the Minister of Education’s seeming lack of transparency. The IIJD believes that this sort of internal affairs investigations should continue especially within the Ministry of Education. It appears we do not yet know the whole truth as to what occurred with the controversial and racist writings. The IIJD would also like to bring into question the role (or lack of a role) of the United Nations and international community in this situation.

After the killing was stopped in 1994, the United Nations set up the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to charge and convict those responsible for the killings. Many government officials have stood trial and many others who carried out the killings have been convicted as well. While the independent tribunal has been often criticized for being slow and ineffective, it has successfully carried out the trials of hundreds of individuals [3].

While the organization served a necessary purpose, attention may have been given excessively to finding blame for the genocide. The focus could, and should, have been more on rebuilding the country. For example, the total operating cost of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for the year 2006-2007 was $247 million [4]. This is a lot of money to be spent for sure but it is for a noble cause is it not? To see the problem that arises with the amount of money spent on the tribunal we must look at the Rwandan education budget. Upon investigation we find that the 2007 budget for education in Rwanda was around $179 million, a whopping difference between the two of just over $68 million! In fact, no one section of the Rwandan government budget (with the exception of the money used for the Regislatives and Executives Organs) comes at all close to matching the budget of the tribunal [5].

The IIJD is aware of the astronomical expenses involved in trying individuals who commits genocide or who act which constitute a crime under international law. To judge the efficiency and effectiveness of the Tribunal based on a simple budget comparison would not be a fair assessment. Ending impunity is as important as preventing the crimes to occur. In a place like Rwanda, where there may still be deep ethnic divisions among the population, children must not be swayed by racist propaganda. Education can breed prevention and prevention is just as important in a post-genocide state as is bringing those responsible for the injustice to justice. Perhaps if some of the money that is currently going towards International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda had been directed towards the Rwandan education budget, the Minister of Education would have had the resources to catch the genocide ideologies within the schools before the Parliament had to stage its own investigation.

Reforming the justice system is critical for any long term and fundamental solution for Rwanda. While recognizing the efforts of the government, we believe that fundamental decisions and actions are still to be taken in order to introduce rule of law and establish a truly independent justice that promotes democratic governance, security, and protection for all in Rwanda. Although the constitution in Rwanda provides for an independent judiciary, certain provisions also give the executive branch and the president authority to appoint and dismiss judges. In practice, the courts are susceptible to government influence and manipulation. Where justice systems conform to international standards on civil, economic and political rights and where they are fair, transparent, reliable and accountable, states and their people thrive. If efforts and the millions of dollars spent every year for the International Tribunal of Rwanda alone were invested in reforming the Rwanda Justice system, general principles that exist irrespective of government type, cultural context, or level of development would have been established by now. A strong Justice System provides the trust and security necessary for business and investment to grow; it gives citizens the power to challenge their government and leaders; protects individual rights; ends corruption; and supports democratic governance through the electoral process.

The goal of the United Nations and similar institutions after genocide should be to assist in all aspects of life. There is equal need to make responsible parties accountable for their crimes as well as to develop the institutions necessary for a productive state. Only this way can we truly avoid repeating past tragedies.

[1] BBC: "Rwanda ‘still teaching genocide’" Jan. 17, 2008.

[2] The New Times (Rwanda): "Education Ministers answer unsatisfactorily – MPs" Jan. 20, 2008.

[3] Gendercide Watch: "Case Study: Genocide in Rwanda, 1994"

[4] UM Human Rights Library: "Organization: International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)"

[5] Ministry to Financial and Economic Planning: "Budget for year 2007" Republic of Rwanda.