Guterres calls nations to fight rising hate, intolerance, reflects genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau

UNITED NATIONS, 8th April. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called all nations to stand firm against rising hate, intolerance, as he reflected genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda.

He said that a generation since those horrific events, “we must never forget what happened – and ensure future generations always remember.”

UN marked the anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, during which Hutu and others who opposed the massacre were also killed.

Mr. Guterres said “We mourn the more than one million children, women, and men who perished in one hundred days of horror 29 years ago,” in his annual commemorative message on the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

He stated that: “We honour the memory of the victims the overwhelming majority Tutsi, but also Hutu and others who opposed the genocide. We pay tribute to the resilience of the survivors. We recognize the journey of the Rwandan people towards healing, restoration, and reconciliation. And we remember with shame the failure of the genocide

“A generation since the genocide, we must never forget what happened and ensure future generations always remember,” he said.

He added how easily hate speech a key indicator of the risk of genocide – turns to hate crime and how “complacency in the face of atrocity is complicity.”

No place, and no time is immune to danger – including our own, he said

Mr. Guterres stressed that preventing genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other serious violations of international law, is a shared responsibility and a “core duty” of every member of the United Nations.

He called for everyone, in all nations, to stand firm against rising intolerance, be ever vigilant – and always ready to act – he concluded: “And let us truly honour the memory of all Rwandans who perished by building a future of dignity, security, justice, and human rights for all.”

The Memorial Ceremony to mark the 29th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda will be held at UN Headquarters on Friday, 14 April, with remarks by the Secretary-General, the President of the UN General Assembly, and other officials, as well as remarks from a survivor of the genocide.

A wreath laying and lighting of candles and a ceremony featuring statements from senior UN officials and testimonies from survivors will be held at the UN Office in Geneva on Thursday, 13 April.