The new resolution changes the designation of April 7 as “the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda” from the name of “the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda” as used by a December 2003 resolution.
In introducing the Rwandan-drafted resolution, Rwandan ambassador to the United Nations, Valentine Rugwabiza, told the General Assembly that the new text captures the historical facts of what happened in 1994, which is genocide “against the Tutsi” and leaves no room for ambiguity.
“Historical accuracy and words are vital while referring to the genocide. The tactics of genocide denial and revisionism are well-known and documented. Some people, mostly those who were involved by action or omission, promote the theory of double genocide in the futile belief that such suggestion might divert their own responsibility,” she said.
{{U.S and EU objected the decision
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The United States representative in the assembly, Kelley Currie said that changing the title of the resolution does not fully capture the magnitude of the genocide and of the violence committed against other groups.
She said Hutus and people from other groups were also murdered for their opposition to the atrocities against Tutsi.
“We will not stand in the way of changing the title of the resolution. We believe it is important to understand that our understanding of the circumstances of the genocide has not narrowed,” she said.
Eric Chaboureau, speaking for the European Union delegation, expressed that consensus had not been reached on commemorating the Hutus and others who were also killed during the genocide.
{{Israel, Africa supported the move
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Noa Furman from Israel said that remembrance was a responsibility of the international community. The atrocities were committed with the aim of systematically annihilating the Tutsi.
“By remembering the crimes of the past, we express our commitment to prevent them from happening in the future,” she said. As a people who had suffered the atrocities of the Holocaust, Israelis understood the global responsibility to reflect on the darkest chapters of human history.
Speaking on behalf of African Group, Equatorial Guinea’s Anatolio Ndong Mba warned that unless the world remembered the lessons learned, it would never live up to its pledge to ensure that no other country endured the pain and suffering that Rwanda had faced.
“This is the least we can do to honour the memory of the children, women and men brutally murdered 24 years ago, and remember all the victims of this tragic and dark chapter,” said Anatolio
He said that the African Union had embedded those lessons in the values of solidarity and unity, and the core principle of non-indifference enshrined in its Constitutive Act.
He said it was imperative to reject negation, revisionism and denial of the genocide against the Tutsi, either through legislation as some countries had done or through Assembly resolutions.
“Perpetrators remained at large in Europe and North America. To eradicate the culture of impunity, and bring about true reconciliation, they must be brought to justice,” he said.
Before the Assembly vote for the decision a number of countries had expressed optimism about the decision.
Those countries include; Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Tchad, DR Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Gabon.
Also include Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Israel, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Turkey, Uganda and Vietnam.
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