{{The African Union (AU) on Sunday commemorated the 19th anniversary of the Rwanda Genocide at its Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.}}
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the AU Commission, noted that the commemoration of the Rwanda Genocide is an opportunity to reiterate commitment to the assertion that no more genocide on the African continent or anywhere in the world now or in future.
“Today, we salute the memory, as we shall always do, of the victims of the Rwanda Genocide through this public act of remembrance,” said the Chairperson at the commemoration under the theme “Let us commemorate the Rwandan Genocide, as we strive for self-reliance.”
The occasion is indeed a contribution towards remembering Rwanda’s past and ensuring that the harmful grief experienced is not passed down to future generations,” he said.
“We also remember the millions of other Africans in all regions of our continent who have died as a result of senseless conflicts, characterized by disrespect of international and regional human rights and international humanitarian laws,” she added.
Stating that Africa still faces numerous challenges in the area of human rights, the Chairperson also said that the AU Commission is making tremendous efforts to address the issue on the continent through various mechanisms and by encouraging member states to ratify, implement and domesticate international human rights instruments.
The Chairperson has appreciated the short stories presented by students on lessons learned from the Genocide in Rwanda.
“This contribution of African children is worthy of special acknowledgement and appreciation. To this I say, ‘if children dare to believe they can change something, they will achieve it, if not today, then tomorrow.’ That is the spirit and inspiration we also as adults should believe in and be inspired with,” said Dlamini- Zuma.
Tewodros Adhanom, Ethiopian Foreign Minister, said that Africa has lived its fair share of gruesome experiences and tragic events that have traumatized its population throughout its history.
Recalling that African Heads of States laid the foundation stone for AU Human Rights Memorial (AUHRM) on Jan. 28 2012 during inauguration of the new AU Conference Center and Office Complex, the Minister called on efforts to enable the Memorial achieve its central objective.
Tewodros said the AUHRM should serve as a place where African policy makers renew collective commitment to prevent atrocious crimes such as genocide from happening ever again on the African continent.
“We should, therefore, spare no efforts to enable this Memorial to achieve its central objective of becoming a permanent center where people from all over the world gather to reflect on the sanctity of life,” he said.
Reiterating that the gathering was to remember Rwandan innocent men, women, and children fallen victim of the then Genocide, Louise Mushikiwabo, Foreign Minister of Rwanda, said on her part that Africa should reject unnecessary loss of lives.
The Minister said Africans should remain vigilant to prevent genocide and other such crimes from happening again on the continent.
{Global Times}
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