The Subcommittee heard evidence about the extensive humanitarian efforts and international aid extended to Rwanda by Canada after the genocide, as well as the lessons learned from this experience. Leslie Norton, Director General of the International Humanitarian Assistance Directorate at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), informed the Subcommittee that “the Rwandan genocide has had a really profound impact on the way Canada and the international community actually provide humanitarian assistance now and how we go about protecting crisis-affected populations, including women and girls.”[47] Officials from DFATD also indicated that Canada has been at the forefront of those international efforts.[48]

The lessons of the Rwandan genocide – including the need to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence in situations of armed conflict – have informed Canada’s implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and related resolutions on women, peace and security.[49] These lessons have also had an effect on Canada’s continued commitment to push for women’s equal participation and full involvement in efforts to maintain and promote international peace and security.[50] In addition, Canada supported the creation and operations of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which had a mandate to “prosecute persons responsible for genocide and other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of Rwanda and neighbouring States, between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1994.”[51]

Canada was an important bilateral development partner with Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide. For many years Canada provided assistance in a number of areas, including health care, judicial issues around reconciliation, land use and land tenure – all of which were key in helping Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery.[52] The Government of Canada has recently reduced its bilateral international assistance to the country as a result of “decisions by the government to focus development assistance on fewer partners.”[53] Currently, Canada contributes to regional programs that include a Rwandan component.[54] DFATD officials told the Subcommittee about two specific contributions, both of which assist victims of conflict-related sexual violence. The first is implemented by a Canadian non-governmental organization – the Centre d’étude et de coopération internationale – and is “a regional project to better protect girls and young women of Rwanda, the DRC, and Burundi from the physical and psychosocial effects of sexual violence.”[55] The second is a contribution to a World Bank project “that offers gender-sensitive activities and technical assistance to national programs for disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of ex-combatants in Rwanda, the DRC, Burundi, and Uganda.”[56]

The Rwandan genocide has had an effect on Canadian foreign and domestic policy. For example, DFATD officials drew the Subcommittee’s attention to the fact that in 1999, the Extradition Act and other legislation were amended to allow the surrender of accused individuals to the ICTR for trial.[57] In 2000, the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act was adopted to allow for criminal trials in Canada for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.[58] Subsequently, one person has been convicted, one has been acquitted, and at least one other has been extradited to face trial for genocide‑related crimes in Rwanda.[59]

As noted by Mr. Rwirangira, in 2004, the Parliament of Canada declared 7 April a “Day of Remembrance of the victims of the 1994 Rwanda genocide” and, by unanimous resolution, in 2008, the date was designated “Day of Reflection on the Prevention of Genocide.”[60]

The Subcommittee heard evidence about social, economic and mental health difficulties faced by genocide survivors who have resettled in Canada, along with suggestions for further action that can be taken to support them. Mr. Rwirangira and Mr. Gashirabake both indicated that psychological trauma often burdens survivors who immigrate to Canada.[61] Mr. Iyakaremye and Ms. Montgomery, for their part, suggested that some of these newcomers continue to experience psychological issues and may not be receiving the assistance they need.[62]

Mr. Rwirangira highlighted the need for safe spaces where women and children victims of sexual violence committed during the genocide could receive assistance and address their psychological and social needs.[63] Although diaspora organizations have attempted to address these needs, Mr. Iyakaremye noted the difficulty his association has had in raising funds amongst members of the diaspora to help orphans and other survivors of the Rwandan genocide.

A. The Subcommittee’s observations

The Subcommittee applauds Canada’s commitment to combatting conflict-related and genocidal sexual violence at the international level, as well as Canada’s efforts to ensure that women participate more fully in building and maintaining international peace and security. These efforts should continue.

The Subcommittee is furthermore of the view that the crisis currently faced by children born of rape committed during the Rwandan genocide highlights important gaps in responses to mass sexual violence. The Subcommittee observes that programing and assistance – whether it is provided by international, governmental or non-governmental actors – must be directed towards both survivors of sexual violence and their children, with specific and specialized assistance offered to children born of rape. Programming designed to meet the needs of these particularly vulnerable children is necessary to mitigate the cross-generational effects of mass sexual violence. It is also essential to the promotion of equality and economic development and, ultimately, to the creation of more peaceful and prosperous societies in affected countries. In the Subcommittee’s view, the Government of Canada is well placed to play a leadership role in such efforts.

The Subcommittee recognizes the importance of the Government of Canada’s programming aimed at addressing conflict-related sexual violence in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa. It takes note, however, of Mr. Iyakaremye’s observation that “as long as Canada does not provide any assistance” directed specifically to Rwanda, it will be difficult for Canada to successfully encourage the Government of Rwanda to extend the benefits afforded to genocide survivors to children born of rape committed during the genocide.[64]

Finally, the Subcommittee was impressed by the work being done by non‑government organizations to support Rwandan genocide survivors, children born of rape committed during the genocide and others affected by conflict and crisis around the world. In particular, the Subcommittee believes that partnerships between Canada’s Rwandan diaspora community and non-governmental organizations active in Rwanda on the one hand, and Canadian educational institutions and mental health experts on the other, ought to be further explored. In the Subcommittee’s view, such partnerships could potentially improve the situation of children born of rape committed during the genocide and allow them to more fully enjoy their human rights. If such partnerships are successful, they could also provide a model for future programming in other regions affected by large-scale sexual violence.