Interpol Experts Meeting on Closing Impunity Gap Concluded

{{The 6th international experts meeting on genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity came to climax on April 16 after three days of deliberations on how to close the impunity gap.}}

Participants from 41 Interpol member countries, representatives of international organizations, civil society and academia took part in the meeting, the first of its kind to be held in a country that experienced genocide.

The Minister of Internal Security, who presided over the closing ceremony, said narrowing the impunity gap requires close cooperation to ensure that justice is served.

He acknowledged the role played by Interpol in locating and apprehending fugitives of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and countries that have enacted laws to try suspects of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

He also challenged other countries that are yet to enact such laws to follow suit.
Stefano Carvelli, head of Interpol Fugitive Investigative Support unit said the meeting has strengthened cooperation among member countries to investigate serious international crimes like genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity and serious violation of human rights.

“It’s the first time such meeting is conducted in a country that experienced genocide; we decided to do this for Rwanda, for Africa. This was an important step forward.

The fact that we decided to bring all Interpol representatives and experts on serious international crimes to Rwanda, is a demonstration of the attention paid by Interpol to what happened in Rwanda in 1994,” Stefano said.

The Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) in Kigali issued about 200 red notices of fugitives responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi which killed more than one million innocent people, but only 40 have since been honoured.

“We have been successful in tracking down some Rwandan genocide fugitives together with the National Central Bureau in Kigali, but getting information on fugitives is the beginning of the investigations.

Sometimes it can take long process to locate them but the strength of police cooperation is the strength and success of the network,” Stefano noted.

RNP