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    June 24, 2011

UN Court Convicts First Woman in 1994 Rwanda Genocide

   VOA News

   A U.N. court has sentenced a former Rwandan government minister to life
   in prison for her role in the 1994 genocide in that country.
   The United Nations-backed tribunal in Tanzania sentenced Pauline
   Nyiramasuhuko Friday on charges of genocide, conspiracy to commit
   genocide and rape as a crime against humanity. She is the first women
   convicted by the tribunal.
   Nyiramasuhuko was minister for family and women's affairs when some
   800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered during a
   three-month period. She was accused of ordering and assisting in
   atrocities that occurred in the southern Butare region during the
   killing spree.
   Her son, Arsene Shalom Ntahobalim, was also sentenced to life in prison
   by the tribunal on similar charges. Four other local officials received
   sentences between 25 years and life in prison.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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