President Paul Kagame paid tribute to the late Dafroza Gauthier, saying Rwandans would always remember her efforts to bring those responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to justice.
His message was delivered during Gauthier’s funeral ceremony in Reims, France, on Monday, October 12, by Rwanda’s Ambassador to France, François Nkulikiyimfura, who represented the country at the ceremony.
Kagame expressed his condolences to Gauthier’s family, friends and those who had known or worked with her, recognising her determination to pursue justice for victims of the Genocide.
“We stand with her family, friends and all those who knew her during this difficult time of profound grief,” Kagame said in his message.
“Dafroza Gauthier will always remain in our hearts because of the determination and perseverance she demonstrated in the struggle to ensure that those responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi are held accountable.”
The President said Gauthier had devoted more than three decades to preserving the memory of Genocide victims, supporting survivors and pursuing accountability for those suspected of participating in the killings.
He also said he and his family had received news of her death with deep sadness and expressed appreciation for her contribution to the pursuit of justice.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Rwanda, and on my own behalf, I extend my heartfelt condolences and sympathy to her family, friends and all those who had the opportunity to work with her,” Kagame said.
Gauthier died on October 3 at the age of 72, after spending decades working to ensure that suspects of the Genocide against the Tutsi who had sought refuge in France faced justice.
Together with her husband, Alain Gauthier, she founded the Collectif des Parties Civiles pour le Rwanda (CPCR) in 2001 to gather evidence and pursue legal action against individuals suspected of participating in the Genocide.
The organisation worked with survivors and witnesses to document crimes, collect testimonies and submit case files to French judicial authorities.
Ambassador Nkulikiyimfura said Gauthier’s legacy would continue through CPCR, whose activities had contributed to efforts to fight impunity and secure justice for victims.
The organisation played a role in several prosecutions in France. By the time of her death, seven convictions linked to cases in which CPCR was involved had become final.
Gauthier’s dedication to justice also received recognition from the umbrella organisation of Genocide survivors’ associations, IBUKA, which described her as an exceptional woman who had devoted much of her life to defending the rights of survivors.
In a message delivered at the funeral, IBUKA President Dr Philbert Gakwenzire recognised Gauthier’s contribution to preserving the truth about the Genocide and ensuring that those responsible were brought before the courts.
“Today, we bid farewell to an extraordinary heroine, Mama Dafroza Gauthier, who lived for 72 years. She was not only a Rwandan woman; she was a voice for our loved ones who could no longer speak and a light of justice,” IBUKA said.
The organisation recalled the personal losses Gauthier suffered during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, including the deaths of her mother, siblings and many other relatives.
According to IBUKA, approximately 80 members of her extended family were killed, while no one from her mother’s side of the family survived.
Despite these losses, Gauthier dedicated herself to fighting Genocide denial and minimisation while helping survivors seek justice.
IBUKA said CPCR had contributed to the submission of approximately 30 case files to French courts, some of which led to convictions, including life sentences.
Beyond gathering evidence, Gauthier translated documents, interpreted testimonies given in Kinyarwanda and visited schools to educate young people about the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Her work also involved preserving survivors’ testimonies and ensuring that their experiences were heard during judicial proceedings.
IBUKA said her efforts demonstrated that remembrance should extend beyond commemorations to include the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability.
President Kagame also described Gauthier’s dedication as a source of inspiration for Rwanda and future generations, acknowledging the lasting contribution she had made to the country’s pursuit of justice.
IBUKA extended its condolences to Alain Gauthier, their three children and other bereaved relatives, saying that although Dafroza Gauthier had passed away, her contribution to the pursuit of justice would remain part of Rwanda’s history.
“Rest in peace. The justice you fought for will forever stand as a tribute to you,” the organisation concluded.
RADIOTV10