BREAKING THE SILENCE THE CENTER FOR GENOCIDE AND HUMAN RIGHTS RESEARCH IN AFRICA AND THE DIASPORA (GHRAD) AND THE FIGHT TO RECOGNIZE THE 1972 BURUNDI MASSACRE.docx

This thesis examines how the Center for Genocide and Human Rights in Africa and the Diaspora (GHRAD) formulates and implements communication strategies to promote recognition of the 1972 Burundi massacre as genocide. Despite the scale and systematic nature of the killings, international acknowledgment has remained elusive. The study uses a qualitative case study method to look at how GHRAD uses memorials, academic conferences, survivor testimonies, and digital archives to challenge historical denial, demand justice, and change the way people talk about recognizing genocide. The study used interviews, document analysis, and observations and was guided by framing theory and Stake’s intrinsic case study method. The results show that GHRAD’s use of the Ubuntu model and its variety of communication methods are key to bringing about a more inclusive understanding of genocide and mobilizing public memory. This research contributes to genocide studies and health communication by emphasizing the role of narrative, visual storytelling, and community-based advocacy in resisting erasure and fostering historical truth. By highlighting the long-standing impact of colonial legacies and the importance of survivor-centered advocacy, this thesis highlights the urgency of expanding global frameworks to include African genocides in international memory and policy discourse.