{"id":39893,"date":"2023-04-15T18:15:16","date_gmt":"2023-04-15T18:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/photos-international-community-should-learn-from-1994-genocide-against-the-tutsi-rwandan-envoy"},"modified":"2023-04-15T18:47:08","modified_gmt":"2023-04-15T18:47:08","slug":"photos-international-community-should-learn-from-1994-genocide-against-the-tutsi-rwandan-envoy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/photos-international-community-should-learn-from-1994-genocide-against-the-tutsi-rwandan-envoy","title":{"rendered":"PHOTOS: International community should learn from 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi \u2013 Rwandan envoy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Collectively, the international community can and should learn lessons from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and take bold steps to move from commitments to concrete actions to protect humanity against Genocide, now and in the future, anywhere in the world, a Rwandan diplomat stressed on Thursday, April 13.<\/p>\n

Amb Marie Chantal Rwakazina, Rwanda\u2019s envoy to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, noted this during an event to mark the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut this does not seem to be completely the case. In many places around the world, we still see situations that may erupt into a genocide if no action is taken timely,\u201d she said, noting that, for example, the prevalence of armed groups, including the genocidal FDLR, in the eastern DR Congo, \u201cwhich still spread genocide ideology and causes insecurity not only in Rwanda but also to the region should be very concerning to all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The FDLR are genocidal forces that were defeated in Rwanda and fled to DR Congo in 1994.<\/p>\n

The UN sanctioned genocidal group based in eastern DR Congo for close to three decades has launched attacks on Rwanda throughout the years, including in 2019 when fighters of its RUD Urunana faction killed 14 civilians in Musanze District in Rwanda\u2019s Northern Province.<\/p>\n

The Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on the prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, has described the current violence in eastern DR Congo as \u201ca warning sign,\u201d Rwakazina recalled.<\/p>\n

\u201cA technical-level mission by her Office established that indicators and triggers contained in the UN Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes were present. These include, among others, dissemination of hate speech; politicization of identity; and widespread and systematic attacks,\u201d Rwakazina said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe continued role of the genocidal FDLR in spreading genocide ideology in the region and the support it gets from where it operates have been well documented…it is obvious that somewhere, people are still being targeted based on who they are.\u201d<\/p>\n

As we reflect on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, she noted, \u201cwe may ask ourselves\u201d this question: after 29 years, is the international community about to fail again to uphold the promise of \u201cNever Again\u201d?<\/p>\n

\u00b7 UN official recounts interview with genocide perpetrator in Rwanda<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Global eminent persons call for action over genocide in DR Congo<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Inside the secret DR Congo-FDLR pact<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Belgian lawyer on why genocide ideology doesn\u2019t dissolve three decades after dispersion of genocidaires<\/p>\n

Justice for survivors of the 1994 Genocide<\/p>\n

The envoy also talked about justice for the survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The UN Security Council in its Resolution No. 2150 of April 16, 2014, she recalled, asked member states to judge or extradite genocide fugitives on their territories. Regrettably, she said, 29 years since 1994, a number of genocide fugitives still live freely in some countries.<\/p>\n

Rwandan genocide fugitives especially roam free in countries such as France, DR Congo, Uganda, UK, The Netherlands, Malawi, Tanzania, Congo Brazzaville, and Belgium.<\/p>\n

In March 2021, Rwanda\u2019s the Genocide Fugitives Tracking Unit (GFTU) indicated that it had issued 1,146 indictments and arrest warrants against Genocide fugitives in 33 countries. As noted, the biggest number, 408, was in the neighbouring DR Congo, 277 in Uganda; 63 in Malawi, 52 in Tanzania, 47 in France, 42 in Congo Brazzaville, and 40 are in Belgium.<\/p>\n

The fact that these genocide fugitives still live freely in some countries is seen in Kigali, the diplomat noted, \u201cas condoning their genocidal acts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Where are the 1,100 Genocide fugitives?<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cThis kind of complicity, indifference and promotion of a culture of impunity must stop. The Survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi need justice today as they needed it 29 years ago. Anyone hiding genocide fugitives must know that justice delayed is justice denied.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe genocide fugitives who are still at large have ever since been spreading the genocidal ideology from the countries where they are situated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Freedom of expression exercised to propagate genocide ideology, hate speech<\/p>\n

From afar, she said, this ideology is being spread through social media platforms, online channels, and some newspapers and so-called Organisations for Human Rights are spreading revisionist narratives of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.<\/p>\n

Freedom of expression is no human right when it is exercised abusively to propagate genocide ideology and hate speech, she reiterated.<\/p>\n

Rwakazina said: \u201cIt is our collective responsibility as Member States to fight genocide ideology and the denial of the Genocide against the Tutsi. The International Community and UN Member States, as well as Signatories to the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide have the obligation under this Convention to fight and prosecute hate speech and crimes of genocide in their respective countries.<\/p>\n

The international community and UN member states can do more working individually and collectively to counter hate speech and prevent genocide, she said.<\/p>\n

And she mentioned some actions that can go a long way in that direction.<\/p>\n

First, she noted, countries, which have not yet arrested and prosecuted identified and confirmed genocide fugitives residing or hiding in their territories, should do so.<\/p>\n

Secondly, countries which have not yet accessed the UN Convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide, should consider to do so.<\/p>\n

Countries which have not yet enacted laws punishing the crime of any genocide recognized by the UN or international courts, as well as any other act leading to genocide ideology, genocide denial, or its revisionism as defined by international instruments should consider to do so.<\/p>\n

She also recommended the establishment of memory symbols in remembrance of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and inclusion of course lessons about the Genocide against the Tutsi in schools to educate the young and the next generation on the need to fight hate ideologies and stand against any form of discrimination and divisionism are also of utmost importance.<\/p>\n

Rwakazina added: \u201cRwanda is grateful for countries which have taken steps in responding to this call for action and their continued commitment to building a peaceful, secure and discrimination-free world to which Rwanda is equally committed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe shall always remember the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, unite as a nation and continue to work hard to sustain a renewed Rwanda we have today.<\/p>\n


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