PHOTOS: UN commemorates 30th anniversary of Genocide against the Tutsi

The United Nations marked the 30th anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda with a solemn ceremony at the UN General Assembly Hall, honouring the memory of the victims and survivors, on April 12. In his remarks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi as a stain on the world's conscience. He underscored the roots of the genocide as a combination of colonial legacies and unchecked hate speech, highlighting the importance of renewed efforts to combat the proliferation of such rhetoric, particularly in this digital era. Guterres emphasized and commended the resilience and reconciliation efforts demonstrated by the Rwandan society in the aftermath of the genocide. UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis re-emphasized the dangerous consequences of hate speech, calling the world to draw lessons from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He observed that the genocide was fuelled by decades of hate speech targeting the Tutsi and that three decades later, the violence of hate speech continues to pervade our world. Amb Fatima Kyari Mohammed, the African Union's Permanent Observer to the United Nations, reaffirmed the AU's steadfast commitment to promoting peace, security, and reconciliation across the continent. The genocide against the Tutsi was a devastating chapter in our shared history, but it has also galvanized us to work tirelessly to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again, she said. Claver Irakoze, a survivor of the genocide against the Tutsi, shared his harrowing testimony, recounting the terror and immense loss his family endured during the genocide. I stand before you today, not merely as a survivor, but as a witness to the power of the human spirit to endure even the darkest of times, Irakoze said. Rwanda's Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, expressed gratitude for the international community's support in the aftermath of the genocide and highlighted Rwanda’s ongoing efforts to promote justice, healing, and national unity. Ugirashebuja underscored that while the trauma can never be fully healed, the people of Rwanda have shown remarkable resilience, choosing the path of reconciliation and renewal. In 2003, the United Nations General Assembly established the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This annual observance, provides a crucial opportunity to acknowledge the immense horrors of the genocide against the Tutsi, and serves as a time to reflect on the enduring impact of this tragedy. The establishment of this international day was a necessary step towards ensuring the world not only remembers, but also recommit to preventing such mass atrocities from ever recurring anywhere in the world. This day, therefore, calls upon the world to rededicate itself to combating all forms of hatred, including racism, bigotry, discrimination, and the denial of genocide. Only through collectively confronting the darkness of the past can we truly honor the vow of Never Again and empower future generations to build a world founded on justice, equality, and peace.

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PHOTOS: UN commemorates 30th anniversary of Genocide against the Tutsi