This year, on the 7th of April, Director of the Office of the Nicolaus Copernicus Academy Dr. Witold Mazurek, Professor at the Ignatianum University in Cracow, participated in the solemn commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in Warsaw.
The participation of a representative of the Nicolaus Copernicus Academy in this solemn ceremony was an expression of remembrance for the victims and of solidarity with the Rwandan people, as well as a reaffirmation of our commitment to the values of dialogue, reconciliation, and the building of lasting peace.
The Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda is a partner of the Nicolaus Copernicus Academy. In 2023, Rwanda was one of nine countries to sign the Toruń Declaration, which was adopted during the World Copernican Congress, held in the City of Toruń. The document serves to support scientists worldwide, emphasizing the importance of academic freedom, freedom of debate, and international academic cooperation.
In 2024, Rwanda’s Ministry of Education, through its diplomatic mission to Poland, expressed a desire to deepen and expand scientific and research cooperation between the Nicolaus Copernicus Academy and the Government of Rwanda. Discussions focused on issues such as scientific research, organization of conferences and seminars, as well as student exchange programs. A cooperation agreement was signed for this purpose.
We hope that the Nicolaus Copernicus Academy will have its funding restored so that it can continue to build partnerships such as this one.
At the beginning of yesterday’s ceremony, the guests honoured the memory of the victims with a minute of silence and by lighting candles in memory of the fallen – Urumuri rutazima (the unfading light of hope) – to mark the start of the week of national mourning observed in Rwanda.
“On the 32nd anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi, we join in remembrance of the victims of this unimaginable tragedy, expressing our solidarity and support for the work of reconciliation and peacebuilding.”
