[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 27, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2054-S2055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 122--OBSERVING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE 
                               IN RWANDA

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Kaine, Mr. 
Cardin, Mr. Coons, Mr. Merkley, and Mr. Booker) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 122

       Whereas 25 years ago, between April and June 1994, an 
     estimated 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;
       Whereas the genocide forced Rwandans to confront core 
     issues of ethnic and national identity, justice, peace, 
     reconciliation, 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 Development 
     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 assistance 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, better 
     health outcomes, protection of biodiversity, and fully 
     accountable governance: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) solemnly observes the 25th Anniversary of the genocide 
     in Rwanda, which began on April 6, 1994;
       (2) recognizes the failure of the international community, 
     including the United States, to provide urgent assistance in 
     preventing and stopping the genocide;
       (3) reaffirms that the people of the United States will 
     continue to stand with the people of Rwanda in their ongoing 
     journey towards reconciliation, peace, and open, inclusive, 
     and accountable governance;
       (4) reaffirms its commitment to the Convention on the 
     Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, done at 
     Paris December 9, 1948;
       (5) supports ongoing efforts to educate the people of the 
     United States, and around the world, about the genocide in 
     Rwanda, hoping to prevent the commission of any such future 
     occurrences in Rwanda or elsewhere;
       (6) commits to continuing efforts to strengthen and support 
     Rwandan, United States, and other international institutions 
     and tribunals working to bring to justice those responsible 
     for the genocide; and
       (7) calls on the United States Government and the 
     international community to seize on the occasion of this 
     anniversary to focus attention on the future of Rwanda, 
     cooperating to prevent and respond to genocide and crimes 
     against humanity in nations across the globe, and to support 
     the people of Rwanda so that they may--
       (A) be free from future ethnic violence;
       (B) experience full civil and human rights, without fear of 
     violence or intimidation;
       (C) peacefully resolve disputes; and
       (D) benefit from sustained economic growth and development, 
     which improves the health, prosperity and standard of living 
     of all.

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