Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General has requested governments to keep away from genocide ideology and other human rights violations. He conveyed the message yesterday as he presided over the event that reflected on the genocide perpetrated against Tutsi in 1994. He urged governments to resist the evil and be marked by generosity giving an example of Rwanda as a country having shown that reconciliation is possible.
Ban Ki-moon said the only way to prevent genocide and other egregious violations of human rights is to acknowledge shared responsibility and commit to shared action to protect those at risk.
“It is essential that Governments, the judiciary and civil society stand firm against hate speech and those who incite division and violence,” Mr. Ban told participants attending the commemoration event at the UN General Assembly which this year focused on “Fighting Genocide Ideology.”
“The history of Rwanda teaches us an essential lesson,” he continued. “While the capacity for the deepest evil resides in all societies, so too do the qualities of understanding, generosity and reconciliation. Let us nurture these hallmarks of our common humanity to help build a life of dignity and security for all.”
More than one million Tutsi were killed in 1994 genocide.
“In remembering the victims, we should all be inspired by the survivors’ courage,” the Secretary General declared. “They have showed that reconciliation is possible, even after such appalling crimes.”
He paid special recognition to three survivors attending the event to share their stories and messages, including Frida Umuhoza, who insisted that more action from the international community is needed to ensure that it stands by its words when it says “never again” to genocide.
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