Lagos – The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and the Movement for African Refugees in Nigeria (MAREN) held an Interactive Forum with journalists, in Lagos today, to discuss sundry issues of crime against humanity, as part of the global solidarity with the people of Rwanda to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the 1994 genocide in that country,

Participants at the event were media and NGO representatives and students of social and political sciences of the University of Lagos.  Mr Cyr Modeste Kouame, Chief of the Lagos office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and Dr Shambavhi Gopalkrishna, President and Founder of the Movement for African Refugees in Nigeria (MAREN), shared with the participants knowledge on the causes and impacts of genocide.

In a special message read by Mr Tetsuo M Ohno, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon said the UN has a moral duty to act on the lessons of Rwanda. He said he was equally determined to work for human rights everywhere to uphold, protect and defend them and to ensure that they are a living reality.

During a stimulating interactive session, two Rwandan survivors of the 1994 genocide, Ms Marian Kirubi and Mr Robert Rwagasore, recounted experiences as victims of the genocide and on how they cope with life as refugees in Nigeria. The representative of UNHCR also spoke extensively on the programmes and projects being implemented by the agency to manage refugee challenges in the country.

Participants, who also examined the legal, social and economic aspects of managing refugee issues, concluded that more care and support should be given to them by the UN, governments and all stakeholders to encourage and facilitate their repatriation.