Facing the Past: Reentry and Reintegration of People Convicted of Genocide in Rwanda

Light refreshments will be provided

Almost 29 years ago, upwards of one million Rwandans were killed in just a few months. Hundreds of thousands of civilians perpetrated this genocide, and in the aftermath, Rwanda's gacaca courts sentenced many of them to prison. This talk will address what is happening as these individuals are finishing their prison sentences and returning to their communities, often to live side by side with the people they harmed. Drawing upon interviews with 190 people convicted of genocide—who were interviewed in prisons, 4 months after their release, and 1 year after their release—as well as interviews with 100 community members, the talk will highlight the factors aiding reconciliation within communities. It will also address barriers to reconciliation and consider how to address survivors' needs amidst widespread reentry and reintegration. 

Hollie Nyseth Nzitatira is Associate Professor of Sociology at The Ohio State University. Her research agenda is motivated by the fundamental questions of why and how atrocity crimes occur and who commits them, as well as the process of transitional justice after atrocities. She is currently studying the reentry and reintegration of people who spent time in prison for committing genocide in Rwanda.

Organized by the Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies. Presented with Voice to Vision, the Human Rights Program, the Human Rights Center, and the Sociology Department.