HONOURING DAFROZA: A LIFE DEDICATED TO JUSTICE, TRUTH AND REMEMBRANCE Today, as we bid our final farewell to Dafroza Mukarumongi Gauthier, laid to rest in Reims, France, we honour a remarkable woman whose lifelong commitment to justice became a powerful act of remembrance and resistance against impunity. Together with her husband, Alain Gauthier, Dafroza dedicated decades of her life to tracking down people accused of participating in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who had found refuge in France, and ensuring they faced justice. Their work led to the establishment of the Collective of Civil Parties for Rwanda/Collectif des Parties Civiles pour le Rwanda (CPCR), a testament to their determination that distance, time and a new life abroad should never erase accountability for genocide. In our book, 100 Days, 100 Stories – Rwandan Voices on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, written by my colleague Joy Inganire and published in December 2024, Dafroza shared the deeply personal story of how this mission began. The loss of her entire family in the Genocide fuelled her resolve to pursue justice for the victims and survivors. Reflecting on a courtroom encounter with the daughter of Sosthène Munyemana, who was convicted by a French court in December 2023 for crimes linked to the genocide, Dafroza acknowledged the suffering experienced by his family. Yet her response captured the profound injustice at the heart of her life's work: “Yes, you may have suffered. But at least, you did it as a family.” Those words speak to the unbearable reality of genocide: while some families endured the pain of accusations and trials, survivors were left to live with the permanent loss of parents, children, siblings and entire generations. Dafroza understood that justice could never restore what had been destroyed, but that pursuing it was essential to honouring the dead, recognising survivors' suffering and defending the dignity of those whose lives were taken. Her passing is a profound loss, but her legacy will endure in the cases pursued, the truths uncovered and the hope she helped sustain that justice, however delayed, remains possible. 📖 Read Dafroza’s powerful testimony on pages 201–202 of 100 Days, 100 Stories – Rwandan Voices on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, where she recounts the origins of her extraordinary mission to bring genocide suspects to justice. Mwarakoze cyane, Dafroza. Thank you for your courage, unwavering determination and extraordinary service to humanity. May your life's work continue to inspire future generations to stand against genocide denial, impunity and injustice. As we lay you to rest in Reims today, we remember you not only for the battles you fought, but for the lives and memories you refused to let the world forget. Rest in peace, Dafroza. Your fight for justice will never be forgotten. #DafrozaGauthier #CPCR #JusticeForRwanda #RememberUniteRenew #100Days100Stories #IshamiFoundation #NeverAgain