Genocide and Reconciliation in Rwanda THE EXPERIENCES OF

Genocide and Reconciliation in Rwanda THE EXPERIENCES OF CHILDREN Dr. Louisa Rice and Sarah Mc. Klveen | History INTRODUCTION By the end of April 1994, a genocide against Tutsis and moderate Hutus had already taken hold of the small nation-state of Rwanda, instigated by extremist Hutus. In the wake of the ethnic cleansing came a death toll of around 800, 000 Rwandans, with nearly 300, 000 children exterminated another 95, 000 orphaned. 1 This project argues that children were targeted as explicitly and aggressively as their adult counterparts, suggesting that they were not viewed as “protected” persons regardless of their innocence. Through an analysis of children’s testimonies, we can more fully understand their experiences as well as how these young people are coping in post-Genocide Rwanda. METHODOLOGY AND This project examined individual DATA testimonies given by children in order to assess their experiences and determine lasting consequences. From twelve total testimonies, the violent events that they witnessed or endured were coded and summarized in the below chart. Of the twelve children, all were victims/ survivors. Seven were males and five were females. 234 Age Distribution at Time of 1994 Genocide 5 -6 8 -9 11 -12 1 0 females 1 0 0 males 1 13 -14 2 14 -16 5 Experiences Endured by Children, From Twelve Testimonies 11 2 Beaten with Shot at clubs 3 1 1 Rape/ Forced Thrown into Hunted* attempted drowning pit rape 1 1 Struck by machete Robbed Forced to watch others die IDEOLOGY Unlike many other genocides throughout history, the Rwandan genocide can be seen as unique through its explicit targeting of women and children from the onset. This “root-andbranch” mindset allowed the Hutu extremists to justify killing children and women, to prevent revenge on the “We were told that if you killed the perpetrators. This ideology stems from father and the woman and left the paranoia that the child, there would be consequences. persecuted group is omnipresent and that if The child would grow up and ask you they do not strike first, 5 their opposition will about his father or mother…” destroy them later. Acknowledgments: Thank you to Dr. Rice for all your help and support throughout this research. the effects of trauma have manifested as it affects the future of these children and the rebuilding of Rwanda. Although every story varied with what each child had to endure, there were some patterns found between the twelve child testimonies: the violence toward them was horrifyingly similar to experiences of adults. For the twelve testimonies analyzed, almost all of the children reported grieving, experiencing some degree of depression, apathy, and a feeling that their childhood was lost. For many other child survivors contracted posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severe depression, and/or detachment from their surroundings. 7 Not only do these conditions affect their current lives, but they often only find comfort “through a deep intense hatred of the officially declared enemy. ” 6 This trauma continued through the reconstruction of Rwanda, as new policies Drawing by child survivor during post-genocide relocated orphans to new trauma therapy, 19978 families as an “act of national unity and post conflict reconciliation, ” 7 were put into orphan villages, or were allowed to leave the country. CONCLUSION 6 3 EXPERIENCES AND Because of their experiences within the 100 days of genocide, it is important to see how TRAUMA In conclusion, the examination of children’s testimonies and general experiences during and after the genocide illuminate the ideology and outcomes of this genocide, The close analysis of children as opposed to adults in the Rwandan genocide allow for a unique evaluation of the trauma suffered and the state of the nation during reconciliation and reconstruction. More importantly, there was little difference found between child’s and adult’s testimonies and experiences, which must impact these children in the future. As “The genocide brought me grief children are seen as beacons for and sorrow that will forever live the future, it is imperative to see how these children are coping with 2 within me. ” their trauma, fears, and opinions in – Justin Karangwa, survivor rebuilding their country. SOURCES 1. "Rwanda: Ten Years after the Genocide. " UNICEF. Accessed April 15, 2016. http: //www. unicef. org/infobycountry/rwanda_genocide. html. 2. “Rwanda, Youth & Children’s Testimonies. ” Interviews. 1999. http: //genocide. lib. usf. edu/sites/genocide. lib. usf. edu/files/Karangwa. Justin-Translation. pdf (accessed 8 September 2015). 3. Voices of Rwanda. Interviews. http: //voicesofrwanda. org/testimonies/ (accessed 8 September 2015). 4. “Eyewitness Testimony: Mary “Fifi” Mukangoga, ” United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: http: //www. ushmm. org/confront-genocide/cases/rwanda-videogallery/eyewitness-testimony-mary-fifi-mukangoga (accessed 8 September 2015). 5. Straus, Scott and Robert Lyons. Intimate Enemy: Images and Voices of the Rwandan Genocide. New York: Zone Books, 2006. 6. Salem, Richard A. Witness to Genocide, the Children of Rwanda: Drawings by Child Survivors of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. New York: Friendship Press, 2000. 7. Dooley, Andrea. "“We Are All Rwandans”: Repatriation, National Identity, and the Plight of Rwanda's Transferred Children. " Journal of Human Rights 12, no. 3 (2013): 309 -18. 8. Genocide. August 2003. Compiled by Norman Schultz and Chris Morran. Accessed April 15, 2016. http: //www. beyondintractability. org/cic_images/aha/Genocide-genocide. jpg. 9. Totten, Samuel Ed. Plight and Fate of Children During and Following Genocide. New Brunswick NJ: Transaction Publishers, 2014. 10. Rakita, Sara. Ed. Alison Des Forges, Mike Mc. Clintock. Rwanda: lasting wounds: consequences of genocide and war on Rwanda’s children. New York: Human Rights Watch, 2003. We thank the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs for supporting this research, and Learning & Technology Services for printing this poster.