The United Nations Special Advisor on Genocide Prevention, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, on April 6, spoke about how, years ago when she interviewed a perpetrator of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, he referred to the killings they carried out as "work.”
She was speaking at the African Union, Peace and Security Council, during an open session on prevention of the ideology of hate, genocide and hate crimes in Africa, a day before the world marked the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
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She said: "Years ago when I interviewed a perpetrator in Rwanda, he referred to the killings they carried out as ‘work’, ‘Hio kazi ya kuuwa watu ilikuwa ngumu – ilichosha! ‘The work of killing people was hard – it was exhausting! he said to me in Kiswahili.
"Hate speech is crucial in informing genocide ideology and the mind of a human being to consider killing another human being as work. The Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda was made possible because hate speech against the Tutsi was commonplace and taken for granted.”
When the call to kill went out, Ndiretu explained, it was driven by the fact that hate speech against the Tutsi was so prevalent in Rwanda.
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Hate speech made it easy for ordinary people to respond and kill unarmed men, women, children, and old people – people who posed no threat to them and whose only crime was the identity they held as Tutsi or as Hutu who opposed the Genocide, she noted.
"Hate speech then as now results in hate crimes, discrimination, and violence. Hate speech is an indicator of risk and a trigger of atrocity crimes, in particular genocide as I have just explained. Hate speech was present before, during and after the Holocaust, in Cambodia and in the FormerYugoslavia.
"Hate speech feeds xenophobia, racism, anti-religious hatred, and gender-based hatred, and is
spreading at a speed never seen due to social media. My Office has worked closely with the African Union since its establishment. I look forward to continuing this strong cooperation, and to identify new areas of collaboration on prevention of genocide ideologies. I have come to listen and strengthen what we can do together.”
We must also all act to counter hate speech and other divisive narratives, she said, while upholding fundamental rights and freedoms, in particular free speech.
"We must prioritize the preservation of the evidence of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda committed with full intent in 1994. We still require huge amounts of political will, education, advocacy and above all research into discriminatory practices that could lead to genocide.
Her Office, she noted, has a plan of action for religious leaders and actors on their role in preventing incitement to violence, the "Fez Plan of Action” that could lead to atrocity crimes. They are developing a similar plan of action for traditional leaders and already had their first meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.
"We are working with academic communities in Africa and had our first meeting in Dakar, Senegal to put together African knowledge on the prevention of atrocity crimes that includes promoting curriculums.
"Preventing genocide requires our constant engagement and vigilance. To the victims and survivors, I have this to say to you. We are here. We continue to do everything possible to ensure the world does not forget the crime of genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, we support peace and reconciliation initiatives. You can always count on the support and partnership of my Office.”