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Acts of Genocide and War Crimes Uncovered in Rwanda

Press conference on Monday, March 8, 1993.

MONTREAL - 8 March 1993 – The International Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Abuses in Rwanda since October 1st 1990 will release its report on Monday, March 8, 1993.

The press conference will take place in Montreal at 2:00 pm in the Salon des arts in the Méridien Hotel in the Complexe Desjardins. A similar event will be taking place in Brussels and in Paris.

During their visit to Rwanda, members of the Commission uncovered evidence of war crimes and acts of genocide against the Tutsi ethnic group. In their preliminary statement, they also emphasized the pervasive climate of fear and insecurity in the country.

Three members of the Commission of Inquiry will be available to answer questions at the March 8 press conference. They are Halidou Ouedraogo, President of the Union interafricaine des droits de l'homme, William Schabas, Professor of Law at the Université du Québec é Montreal, and André Paradis, Director of the Ligue des droits et libertés. Mr. Ed Broadbent, President of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, will also briefly address the situation in Rwanda and explain the involvement of the International Centre in that country.

Rights & Democracy is a non-partisan, independent Canadian institution created by an Act of Parliament in 1988 to promote, advocate and defend the democratic and human rights set out in the International Bill of Human Rights. In cooperation with civil society and governments in Canada and abroad, Rights & Democracy initiates and supports programmes to strengthen laws and democratic institutions, principally in developing countries.

For More Information

Please contact Steve Smith (ext 255) or Louis Moubarak (ext 261) at Rights & Democracy, 514-283-6073.