STATEMENTS: Read the Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda 2024.
Mr. President of the General Assembly,
Honorable Ministers,
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
The genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda 30 years ago is a stain on our collective consciousness and a brutal reminder of the legacy of colonialism, and the consequences of hate speech.
Over the course of 100 days, one million people were killed.
The vast majority were Tutsi, but also Hutu and others who opposed the genocide.
Neighbours turned on neighbours.
Friends became murderous foes.
Entire families were wiped out.
The carnage was driven by an explicit intent to destroy members of a group simply because of their ethnic identity.
These 100 days reflected the worst of humanity.
But the aftermath revealed the best of the human spirit: resilience, reconciliation, courage and strength.
The survivors’ stories stand as a testament to the power of hope and forgiveness.
People like Laurence Niyonangira, a survivor of the genocide who lost 37 relatives in 1994.
She chose to forgive one of those responsible for the slaughter of her family after he confessed and served time in prison for his crimes.
“As survivors,” Laurence said, “we can only heal our wounds with the people who created them.”
Her powerful story, and others like it, are part of the exhibits on display for this event reminding us of the imperative of forgiveness, reconciliation, and justice.
Excellencies,
This year, we focus on the rancid root of all genocides — hatred.
Genocides culminate in mass violence and death.
But they start with the weapon of words.
The genocide in Rwanda was fuelled by decades of hate speech targeting the Tutsi.
Three decades later, the verbal violence of hate speech is still all around us.
Nowadays, divisive and dangerous ideologies are delivered through the global megaphone of social media.
But the vile messages remain all-too-familiar.
Racism, misogyny, lies, anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim bigotry, stigmatization, discrimination and the outright denial — or even glorification — of past genocides, including the Holocaust and genocide against the Tutsis.
The global community must stand as one against this torrent of hate speech, and denounce it wherever it’s found.
We must also stand together in a renewed global push to ratify and fully implement the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, while strengthening prevention mechanisms, educating new generations about past genocides, and countering the mis- and disinformation that fuels hate speech and genocidal intent and action.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
I want to convey a special message to the young people from Rwanda joining us today here and online.
Dear friends,
We will never forget the horrors of those terrible 100 days.
But we need your help.
We need your voice and your activism to keep alive the memory of those who were killed.
And to call out hatred wherever you hear or see it.
In your cities, towns, and neighbourhoods. In your schools. Online. Anywhere and everywhere.
Let’s all push back against hatred and intolerance, wherever we find it.
May the memory of the victims spur our actions, and inspire our commitment to ensure a better, safer world for all people.
The United Nations will always stand with you in this important effort.
Thank you.
António Guterres.
EVENTS: 30th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda (Kwibuka30) : The AUC/PAPS of the Agrican Union, in collaboration with the RwandainAddis, commemorates the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda as #Kwibuka30, under the theme: “Remember-Unite-Renew” at the AUHQ
The International conference kwibuka30 at the Kigali Memorial Center on April 7th 2024 marks the start of Kwibuka 30, the 30th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
The Kigali Genocide Memorial commemorates the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The remains of over 250,000 people are interred there. There is a visitor centre for students and others wishing to understand the events leading up to the genocide that occurred in Rwanda in 1994.
Memorial Ceremony to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, organized by the Department of Global Communications and the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the United Nations.
Special Event- Kwibuka 30
12 April 2024 | UN General Assembly Hall | 10:00 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Commemorative activities
- Moment of silence, candle lighting ceremony -Video honoring Kwibuka 30 - Testimony from Mr. Claver Irakoze, song writer,
author of That Child is Me and Transmitting
Memories in Rwanda, Founder of Umurage
Special message from Rwandan children
- H.E. Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
- H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis, President of the 78th
session of the General Assembly
- H.E. Ambassador Ernest Rwamucyo, Permanent
Representative of Rwanda to the UN
- H.E. Ambassador Fatima Kyari
Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the
African Union to the UN
- Honorable Dr. Jean Damascene Bizimana,
Minister of National Unity and Civic
Engagement
Master of Ceremonies:
Ms. Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary General for Global Communications
Music by the United Nations Staff
Recreation Council Symphony Orchestra
2024 Commemoration of the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda - United Nations General Assembly. Get the agenda programme!
2024 Commemoration of the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda - United Nations General Assembly. Get the agenda programme!
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