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Project Background

After 39 years of existence, and in the wake of the Rwandan genocide as well as the end of Apartheid in South Africa, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was transformed into the African Union (AU) in July 2002. The principal aim of the transformation was to make the AU a people-centred institution. Now, the AU has as one of its aims the promotion of democratic principles and institutions and promotion and protection of Human Rights. The essence of the AU’s commitment towards the promotion and protection of Human Rights flows from the mandate of the African Union as provided in Article 3(h) of the Constitutive Act of the AU. Following its decision to build its new headquarters and conference centre on the site of the former central prison formerly known as Alem Bekagn (Farewell to the world), the AU made a historic move towards honouring victims of past violations and atrocities.

In April 2004, on the tenth anniversary of the commemoration of the genocide in Rwanda, the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) of the African Union (AU) passed a resolution, sponsored by Rwanda, deciding to make 7th April an annual event in the AU calendar, and also to preserve part of Alem Bekagn prison, where the New AU Conference Building has been built, as a human rights memorial, dedicated to the victims of the Red Terror, colonialism, apartheid and the Rwanda Genocide.

The AU General Assembly of the African Union endorsed the PRC’s Decision to establish a permanent memorial in honour of victims of major human rights atrocities in Africa. Assembly Decision (Assembly/AU/5 (XIV) paragraph 22 (iv) mandated the AUC to ‘initiate steps to build a permanent memorial to the victims of human rights violations, including genocide, within the African Union Headquarters’.

Consequently, on January 28, 2012, the foundation stone for the AUHRM was unveiled by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, Benin’s President Thomas Yayi Boni, and many more dignitaries. The inscription on the foundation stone reads as follows:

For all the victims of human rights abuses in Africa, including those of the slave trade and colonialism, and particularly the genocide in Rwanda (1994), the Alem Bekagn prison massacres (1937 and 1974), the Red Terror (1977-78) in Ethiopia and Apartheid in South Africa. Unveiled on the occasion of the commissioning of the AU conference and office complex, 18th Summit of Heads of State and Government. Addis Ababa, 28 January 2012

Topic Resources

December 13, 2016

African Union Human Rights Memorial (AUHRM)

Concept Note

Overview

December 13, 2016

African Union Human Rights Memorial (AUHRM)

Concept Note

Overview