Global Goals can never be achieved without sustainable peace, and this is impossible where human rights are not respected, according to the Director General of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Centre for Africa, Dr Delay Begashaw.
He was speaking at the end of last week as 32 staff members of the SDG Centre for Africa visited Ntarama Genocide Site in Bugesera District to understand the history of Genocide against the Tutsi and how it was executed.
Ntarama has particular history of genocide since thousands were killed here as they sought refuge at the former church.
"The Genocide against the Tutsi was the worst attack on human rights, the aspect which SDGs must consider if the world is to achieve sustainable development,” he said.
"Many people read about Genocide against the Tutsi in books and other channels and it becomes difficult for them to understand. They should come and visit such memorial sites to understand first-hand,” he said.
Begashaw said that visiting memorials, remembering and supporting Genocide survivors are necessary steps to honour the innocent souls that were killed.
For Rwanda to fully recover from such situation, true love and unity must prevail, he said.
"What has been achieved in Rwanda is very impressive since many countries under similar conditions take much longer time to recover. We, however, have more things to do to ensure a better future,” he said adding SDGs promotes well-being and human rights for people.
He said that tolerance helps to manage aftermath of hard times like genocide.
"SDGs are about building people and helping them to understand what happened, fighting genocide among many other human crises. We have no room for this and should not leave behind human rights. With hardwork, we will getter a better future,” he added.
The SDG Centre staff donated a cow to a Genocide survivor in Ntarama.
The SDG Centre for Africa has its headquarters in Kigali.
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