[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 122 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






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 following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
       Observing the 25th Anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda.

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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