Memorial Tributes
After Alison Des Forges’ sudden and untimely death on February 12, 2009, memorial gatherings were held around the world to mourn her loss, to express gratitude to her, and to talk about ways to continue her work.
This is a collection of some formal tributes that were given at these memorials, presented in chronological order. The collection begins with tributes that were given at a memorial service in Buffalo, New York ten days after Alison’s death, and ends with a sampling of the tributes that were given at a gathering on the first anniversary of her death.
Many other people have written about Alison. Some of their tributes have appeared, or will appear, in newspapers and magazines, in academic volumes, and in a booklet published by Human Rights Watch. Others are purely personal memories, and are being compiled separately.
Please note that this collection is a work in progress.
Rachel Massey
July 23, 2010
The complete collection, listed below, may be downloaded here.
Tribute Listing
Buffalo, New York • February 22, 2009
Rev. Patrick Keleher
Douglas Liebhafsky
Roger Des Forges
Eileen Buermann
Helene Kramer
David Zarembka
Jessie Des Forges
Cécile Rwabukumba Ngwinondebe
Amherst, Massachusetts • March 8, 2009
Martha Saxton
Kigali, Rwanda • March 20, 2009
Kenneth Roth
Leslie Haskell (a reading)
Roger Des Forges
Madison, Wisconsin • May 19, 2009
Scott Straus and Lars Waldorf
Lee Ann Fujii
New York, New York • May 21, 2009
Kenneth Roth
Roméo A. Dallaire (statement)
Monique Mujawamariya
Anneke Van Woudenberg
Maria Burnett
Noel Twagiramungu
Aloys Habimana
William Foltz
Jane Olson
Alexander Des Forges
Paris, France • June 2, 2009
Jean-Pierre Chrétien
Roger Des Forges
Catherine Choquet
M. Theobald Rutihunza
Geneva, Switzerland • July 10, 2009
Roger Des Forges
Leslie Haskell
Claudine Vidal
Buffalo, New York • February 12, 2010
Africa Division, Human Rights Watch (statement)