Special Court for Sierra Leone
Press and Public Affairs Office

PRESS RELEASE
Freetown, Sierra Leone, 7 April 2004

Special Court Marks International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda

On Wednesday, the 10th anniversary of the beginning of the genocide in Rwanda, the staff at the Special Court for Sierra Leone have joined the international community in standing to observe a one minute silence to pay tribute to the victims.

On the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda, the Acting Registrar of the Special Court, Robert Kirkwood, also paid tribute to the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for its work to bring justice for victims.

Mr Kirkwood said the ICTR continued to pursue the main perpetrators of the conflict, which he stressed was an essential element in bringing lasting justice to Rwanda as a nation.

"International justice is a step in the direction of making sure that impunity will not be tolerated in Africa - either in Rwanda or in Sierra Leone," Mr Kirkwood said.

"The victims of Rwanda and their families, along with the victims and loved ones of those who died in Sierra Leone, deserve justice. The ICTR, like the Special Court for Sierra Leone, aims to establish an international standard for the restoration of rule of law."

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