Healing from genocide in Rwanda

Alternatives to Violence Programs

March 13-15, 2008

By Linda Kreitzer and Mary Kay Jou

Map of Rwanda

Agenda of workshop

1. Historical background of both Rwanda and the Congo and current situation.

2. Alternatives to Violence Programs (AVP)

3. Mary Kay’s work in Rwanda and the Congo.

History of Rwanda

Pre-colonial period – Tutsi cattle breeders arrived in Central Africa and established a monarchy headed by a king and a feudal hierarchy of Tutsi nobles and gentry. Over the years race and class were less distinct and there was peaceful times of living together.

End of 19th century – Nyiginya dynasty Hutus tended to be farmers, Tutsis were

stockbreeders and Twa were hunters or potters.

Colonialism

First European, a German, came to what is now Rwanda followed by the white fathers or missionaries.

Belgium rule – 1915-1962. Hamitic hypothesis1959 revolt1960-61 – Hutu election victory1961 – 1967 – Tutsi massacres

After Independence

First republic – 1962-1973 – Kept up with racial profiling. This time the Hutus were seen as the rightful inhabitants and the Tutsis were foreigners.

1972-1973 – Ethnic violence erupted with more massacres.

1973-1994 – Habyarimana government1994 – Second genocide

History of Rwanda cont.

The 1994 genocide in Rwanda was unprecedented and over 800,000 men, women and children were murdered. Within 4 months, 1.75 million people had fled.

Work has been going on in Rwanda after the genocide to promote sustainability with economic and social development.

History of Congo

Pre-colonialColonizaton (1908-1960)Republic of Congo (1960-65)Zaire (1965-1996)DR of Congo (1997)

DR of Congo’s relationship to Rwanda

1996 – Rwandan war and genocide had spilled over to Zaire.

Use of refugee camps for Hutu military. Hutus and Zairian military join to fight Congolese

ethnic Tutsis. Tutsi militia was supported by Rwanda and

Uganda to oust Mobutu. Kabila named himself president when Mobutu left.

1997 – renamed the DR of Congo

DR of Congo’s relationship to Rwanda

Several peace deals were brokered between Rwanda and Uganda but more fighting continued.

By June 2003 all foreign troops except Rwanda pulled out of the Congo

2006 – Multi-party elections were held and Kabila was sworn in as president.

There are still Rwandan refugees in the Congo and a ceasefire was again obtained between Rwanda and the Congo in 2007. Rwanda continues to chase down Hutu on the Congolese side and tensions remain high between the countries.

Rwanda today

Visit to RwandaEconomic situationPolitical situationPsychological healing from the genocide. a. International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda b. Gacaca system

Rwanda Today

c. Memorialization d. Solidarity camps

Genocide healing and reconcilation

True healing of a country includes addressing the social, economic, political and emotional needs of a country. Development activities can help reduce mental health problems due to the war. On the other hand, trauma healing can help to strengthen people to contribute to development.

NGO’s

Projects and interventions

International Rescue CommitteeUNICEF

Projects and interventions

There has been research and programs set up to deal with trauma from the genocide.

One particular work has been by Ervin Staub, Laurie Pearlman and Vachel Miller.

Another is by Annemiek Richters, Cora Dekker and Klaas de Jonge.

Staub, Pearlman and Miller

Work looks at the relationship between reconciliation and forgiveness.

ReconciliationForgiveness

Staub, Pearlman and Miller

1. Developing an intervention that could be used by groups after researchers left.

2. Two-week seminar with Rwandans from local and international NGO’.

3. Seminars for national leaders.4. Evaluation of the Gacaca system.5. Seminars with journalists6. Radio programs

Richters, Dekker and de Jonge

Socio-therapyFocuses less on terrible memories of the

past and focuses primarily on the here and now situation.

Main goal is increasing safety and trust within a group

References

A. Richters, C. Dekker & K. deJonge (2005). Reconciliation in the aftermath of violent conflict in Rwanda. Intervention, 3, 3, 203-221.

E. Staub, L.A. Pearlman & V. Miller (2003). Healing the roots of genocide in Rwanda, Peace Review, 15, 3, 287-294.

References

E. Staub, L.A. Pearlman, A. Gubin & A. Hagengimana (2005). Healing, reconciliation, forgiving and the prevention of violence after genocide or mass killing: An intervention and its experimental evaluation in Rwanda. Journal of social and clinical psychology, 24, 3, 297-334.

A. Dyregrov, L. Gupta, R. Gjestad & E. Mukanoheli (2000). Trauma exposure and psychological reactions to genocide among Rwandan children. Journal of traumatic stress, 13, 1, 3-21.