UNICEF withdraws from the Paris concert on April 7

Since April 7 falls on the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has requested that the organizers of a concert by a Congolese musician in Paris postpone it, a UNICEF spokesperson told The New Times.

The French-Congolese artist Gims’ performance organizers had promised to give the event’s earnings to UNICEF in order to benefit the country’s youngsters.

Many people have criticized the concert, which is scheduled to take place at Paris’s Accor Arena with sponsorship from Skyrock FM under the promotional title “Solidarité Congo,” because its organizers are associated with Genocide denial. Critics claim that the concert’s timing on the day that the world joins Rwanda in commemorating the Genocide against the Tutsi is an insult to those who survived it.

In response to inquiries from The New Times on Wednesday, March 12, Nidhi Joshi, the Chief of Communication, Advocacy, and Partnerships at UNICEF Rwanda, stated, “We have requested [that] another date be found for this charity concert.”

“UNICEF has made it clear to the organizers that we will not receive the proceeds from the concert if the date is not changed.”

Since then, it has been revealed that the show’s organizers had moved it to an unspecified date.

Gims is charged with disseminating hate speech against the Tutsi and anti-Rwanda clichés. His performance would occur during a period of resurgent hate speech and persecution of Congolese Tutsis by organizations such as the FDLR, a murderous group associated with the Genocide against the Tutsi.

The UN organization “strongly condemns any form of genocide denial or negation,” according to Joshi.

She explained that UNICEF was not engaged in the concert’s preparation or other logistical aspects, such as selecting the date, location, and inviting artists.

According to Joshi, the only organization the organizers contacted was UNICEF France, requesting that they donate the concert’s revenues to the children in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

“However, as soon as we got to know about the concert and the date, we reached out to our Headquarters to get the date changed from 7th of April,” she added. “I’ve been informed that the date will be altered. UNICEF has made it plain that we will not be attending the performance if the date is not changed.

In order to reschedule the event, she continued, the National Committee for UNICEF in France had contacted the organizers, pointing out that the date they had selected fell on a solemn day of remembering of the Genocide that murdered over a million people in Rwanda.

“The International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda was declared by the UN General Assembly on April 7. UNICEF recognizes the importance of this resolution and adheres to it,” she continued.

Joshi underlined UNICEF’s resolute opposition to actions of genocide denial.

“Such acts are extremely painful and diminish the suffering and experiences of victims and survivors. “We firmly oppose any actions that misrepresent historical facts or prolong harm, and we believe in advancing truth, justice, and reconciliation,” she stated.

UNICEF, she continued, is a non-political organization dedicated to the welfare of families and children, upholding humanitarian ideals while promoting stability and peace.

The Paris Mayor has also been asked to step in and prevent the concert by the Rwandan community in France.

Christophe Renzaho, president of the Rwandan community in France, wrote to the mayor, “Postponing the event will allow those wishing to pay their respects to the victims of the Genocide committed against the Tutsi to do so without facing additional emotional distress.”