Lesson 6: Aftermath, Justice, and the Limits of Accountability
Duration of Days: 1
Lesson Objective
Evaluate how Rwanda and the international community attempted to address crimes committed during the genocide and assess the limits of justice after mass violence.
What can justice accomplish after genocide, and what can it not fix?
Accountability
International Criminal Tribunal
ICTR
Gacaca courts
Reconciliation
Impunity
Transitional justice
Post-conflict justice
D2.His.1.9-12 Evaluate how historical events and developments were shaped by unique circumstances of time and place.
D2.His.14.9-12 Analyze multiple and complex causes and effects of events in the past.
D2.His.16.9-12 Integrate evidence from multiple relevant historical sources and interpretations.
Students analyze institutional responses, compare legal approaches, and evaluate effectiveness and limitations, skills central to evidence-based reasoning and argumentation.
This lesson examines post-genocide justice efforts in Rwanda, including international trials and community-based courts. Students analyze how different accountability mechanisms balanced punishment, truth, and social stability.
The purpose is to challenge the assumption that justice provides closure or fully repairs harm.
DOK: 2–3
Connections to post-conflict justice efforts in other societies, debates over punishment versus reconciliation, and contemporary discussions about accountability after mass harm.
Students may assume justice systems can fully repair societal damage.
Students may believe international trials are faster or more effective than local mechanisms.
Students may view reconciliation as forgiveness rather than coexistence
Provide a comparison chart of justice mechanisms.
Use structured discussion to explore tradeoffs.
Allow students to evaluate cases using guided criteria.
Short written response explaining one strength and one limitation of post-genocide justice efforts.
Reading and question worksheet
Overview of ICTR and Gacaca courts
Map showing post-genocide Rwanda