"We are not limited by the routine," said Julienne Uwacu, the minister of Sport and Culture, which helps organize the commemoration. "We decided to shift from the stadium and to go down at the grass-roots level."

The Rwandan genocide started April 7, 1994, after then-President Juvénal Habyarimana's plane was shot down. Almost immediately, violence broke out as the majority ethnic Hutus targeted the minority Tutsi population and others. By July, more than 800,000 people had been killed.

Rwandans gathered in thousands of villages across the country to observe the anniversary, Uwacu said. Throughout Kwibuka — as the commemoration is known — there will be meetings, lectures and support groups.

This approach is a stark contrast to last year's 20th anniversary, which brought a flood of dignitaries, including United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and top American officials, to the 30,000-seat stadium in Kigali.

Tuesday's ceremony was held across town at the Kigali genocide memorial, where Rwandan President Paul Kagame spoke to a crowd of a few hundred people.

As a light rain turned to a steady shower, the Rwandan leader lit a flame in honor of those killed. "Imagine people hunting down their brothers and sisters," Kagame said, standing not far from the grave where a staggering 259,000 victims are buried. "We were bruised, but we are still standing, and we are not going anywhere."

The rest of Kagame's televised address struck an equally defiant tone. Speaking about "injustices" perpetrated against Rwanda, he was critical of the international community's stance toward the country, which he characterized as inconsistent — especially in regard to rebel groups in neighboring Congo.

The commemoration started to take on a new form in 2012, when the government decided not to hold events at the national stadium as frequently. Refuting that the change was because of budgetary pressures, officials framed the move as a way of bringing Kwibuka closer to the people.

"We don't have citizens who are located permanently in the stadium," Uwacu quipped. Still, the ceremony will return to the stadium every five years — next in 2019.

The flame of remembrance will continue to burn for each of the 100 days of the genocide. As the country mourns, Kagame pointed out how far Rwanda has come.

"This country has changed," Kagame said. "Rwanda has changed for good and forever."

Coalition for the International Criminal Court

MASTER

The ICB wishes to inform you of the Official Announcement of the Master on International Criminal Justice created with the Rovira i Virgili University

4Th International Meeting Of Defence Offices

25 & 26 November 2016 London, United Kingdom

SUMMARY REPORT

 

Defence Office of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon

Dear Madam, Sir,

The Defence Office of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon thank you again for your participation in the Fourth International Meetings of Defence Offices which were held in London, on 25th and 26th of November 2016.

Please find attached the Summary report of the Meetings in French, English and Arabic. 

You will also find attached the questionnaire on Defence Investigations, which we thank you for completing in the language of your choice, and sending back to us, if you have not already done so. As Johann said during the Meetings,your answers will be very useful in that they will illustrate the Guide to Investigations with concrete examples from you experience.

Thank you again for your participation and we hope to see you again in Nuremberg for the Fifth Meetings in 2017.

Kind regards,