International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda

Ambassador Ngarambe,
Mr. Dieng [Special Advisor of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide]
Dr. Gakuba,
Ms. Lyamukuru
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen:

Welcome to today’s commemoration of the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda. I thank the Permanent Mission of Rwanda for organizing this event as an indispensable reminder of those 100 days of horror in 1994 that saw 800,000 people murdered.

Please join me in a minute of silence in memory of the victims and to remind ourselves of those who lost their loved-ones and who continue to carry this grief.

[Minute of silence]

Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, as we commemorate the 1994 events today, let us renew our firm commitment that genocide shall not happen again - ever!

On this important occasion it is my privilege to share with you the message of the Secretary-General, and I quote:

“In 1994, more than 800,000 people were systematically murdered throughout Rwanda. The vast majority were Tutsi, but moderate Hutu, Twa and others were also targeted. On this Day, we remember all who perished in the genocide and renew our resolve to prevent such atrocities from ever being repeated, anywhere in the world.

We should all be inspired by the survivors’ courage in showing that reconciliation is possible even after such a tragedy. With the Great Lakes region still facing serious threats to peace and security, healing and reconstruction remain essential.

Honouring the victims of the genocide in Rwanda also means working for justice and accountability.
I commend United Nations Member States in the region and beyond for their continued efforts to arrest and hand over remaining fugitives and end impunity. The best way to ensure that genocide and other egregious violations of human rights and international law can never occur again is to acknowledge shared responsibility and commit to shared action to protect those at risk.

Genocide is not a single event. It is a process that takes time and preparation. History has repeatedly demonstrated that no part of the world is immune. One of the key warning signs is the spread of hate speech in public discourse and the media that targets particular communities.

The theme of this year’s observance is “Fighting Genocide Ideology”. It is essential that Governments, the judiciary and civil society stand firm against hate speech and those who incite division and violence. We must promote inclusion, dialogue and the rule of law to establish peaceful and just societies.

The history of Rwanda teaches us an essential lesson. While the capacity for the deepest evil resides in all societies, so too do the qualities of understanding, generosity and reconciliation. Let us nurture these hallmarks of our common humanity to help build a life of dignity and security for all”.

That was the end of the Secretary-General’s message.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me second the Secretary General’s words by underlining three elements:

Prevention must be key. The costs of failing to avert genocide are immense, whether measured in the number of lives lost or the suffering of survivors. The international community needs to be even more vigilant and address early warning signs, engage in mediation and find the right words at the right time - before hate spreads and reason fades.

We have to fight the culture of impunity and rebuild trust in the local, national and international communities. There is much we can learn from the courageous efforts in Rwanda to overcome the collective trauma and enter the path of reconciliation. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was the first international court to deliver a judgment on genocide. The Gacaca traditional community court system played a unique role in bringing about justice and reconciliation at the grassroots level.

Third, we need to recognize the pain and the courage of those who survived. Their individual stories should become part of our shared memory and serve as the basis for action. Survivors are at the core of rebuilding a new, more resilient society. They need our continued support.

Let today’s commemoration also be a reminder of the people in current conflict zones around the world, afraid for their lives, for their homes, for their loved ones and who embark on dangerous journeys to reach safe havens. And a reminder to us all to remain vigilant against the reoccurrence of such horrors we remember today.

Thank you very much.