SURF Founder, Mary Kayitesi Blewitt, offered a powerful reflection on the issue of forgiveness at the inaugural annual lecture of The Forgiveness Project by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Archive for the ‘justice’ Category
Speaking out
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
Moral Courage is “the willingness to speak truth to power and risk backlash for a greater good.” There are a number of survivors that I meet during the course of my work, that have great moral courage. The President of SURF’s partner IBUKA, the umbrella body of survivor’s organisation in Rwanda, is amongst them.
Acknowledgement
Monday, January 4th, 2010
There are two pieces of news that I share with you, both an acknowledgement of the work of SURF and our partners. At the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations last month, a resolution was adopted calling for the urgent implementation of proposals to assist survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The challenge of communications
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
Survivors Fund is often asked to comment on news stories, such as the arrest of Rwandan genocidaire, Idelphonse Nizeyimana. Such stories present an opportunity to convey our perspective. However, due to the requirements of the media for a sound bite, it is always a challenge to convey our position in such few words.
Justice for survivors
Friday, September 11th, 2009
Christine Stansell in The New Republic this week published a very powerful essay on Rwanda – The Aftermath and After. It presents a most insightful overview of the situation of survivors in Rwanda today. It highlights that too often the focus of humanitarian organisations is forgiveness. In contrast, SURF’s priority is justice for survivors.
SURF calls on UN to support survivors
Monday, July 13th, 2009
Survivors Fund (SURF) yesterday staged a Reading of the Testimonies of survivors of the Rwandan genocide at the Whitechapel Gallery in London. Testimonies were read by members of the British public, to give a voice to survivors, and to raise awareness of their situation today. It is also marked a call on the UN to honour its commitment to provide greater support to survivors in Rwanda.
Supporting Survivors, Prosecuting Perpetrators
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009
SURF applauds the decision of the UK Government to amend legislation to allow the prosecution of suspected genocidaires from Rwanda resident in the UK. The loophole in current legislation was higlighted by SURF Patron, Fergal Keane, in a BBC report in 2006, and through lobbying from Justice, Redress and the Aegis Trust it is hoped [...]
Survivors and justice
Friday, April 17th, 2009
Justice for survivors of the Rwandan genocide remains a priority for SURF. Our programme agenda is determined by our partners, local survivors’ organisations, and the issue that is most pressing for them – and thus for us – is justice.