Rwanda receives the International ‘Unity is Strength Award’

By Frank Kanyesigye
The Sunday Times-Rwanda
March 28, 2010

Minister of Justice, Tharcisse Karugarama (2nd from right) holding the Diversity award. With him are Second Counsellor Enid Mbabazi, ‘Unity is the Strength’ representative Nadya van Pottens, the Charge d’ Affaires a.i, Parfait Gahamanyi.(Courtesy photo)

KIGALI - Rwanda’s Minister of Justice, Tharcisse Karugarama, has reiterated Rwanda’s pledge to promote unity among the people in the country.
He made the remarks yesterday while receiving the International ‘Unity is Strength Award’ (Diversity Award) on behalf of President Paul Kagame and the people of Rwanda in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

A special nomination committee consisting of 16 Dutch youth, unanimously awarded the Government of Rwanda the 2010 certificate of Diversity for its leading role in promoting unity among the people.

Addressing the guests, Minister Karugarama said that President Kagame is most grateful to the Youth of the Netherlands, particularly the jury and the Nomination Committee, for choosing Rwanda as the 6th beneficiary of the prestigious Award.

“I wish to reiterate Rwanda’s pledge of unwavering support to the efforts and principles embodied in the ‘Unity is Strength Foundation’ as we are a living witnesses of what unity can do and what lack of it can do as well,” he said.

“Unity can create a wonder nation; lack of it could lead to serious problems including the crime of Genocide”.

Karugarama added that Rwandans have fought hard to leave behind the effects of successive divisive politics that marred the country since the colonial era and which culminated into the heinous crime of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. “The people of Rwanda are honoured to receive this award and will not falter from the journey of building a nation of their dream; a nation governed by the rule of law, a nation of peace and stability, a nation of the present and the future, where indeed, unity is strength,” he said.

He noted that Dutch people have stood by Rwanda’s side as exemplified by the numerous interventions and projects they have been engaged in since 1994.

“This Award by the youth of the Netherlands will, in addition, help to motivate the youth of Rwanda towards the ideals and the principles embodied in the ‘Unity is Strength’ Foundation,” he said.

Each year, a country is chosen by the jury, consisting of young people from various NGO’s to identify a country that is making great efforts in promoting unity, peace, tolerance and rejects any form of discrimination.