Remarks by the UN Resident Coordinator in Tanzania, Mr. Zlatan Milisic on 28th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi

• Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Hon. Ambassador Liberata Mulamula,
• The High Commissioner of Rwanda in Tanzania, Amb. Major General Charles Karamba,
• Excellencies, Ambassadors, High Commissioners,
• Representative from the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Rachel Irura, Head of Witness Support Section
• Religious Leaders,
• The Rwandan Community in Tanzania,
• UN Colleagues
• Members of the Press,
• Ladies and gentlemen,

Habari za Asubuhi!

I am privileged to be addressing all of you here today and delivering the Secretary General’s Statement on behalf of the UN in Tanzania as we mark the 28th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi. This important commemoration which was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2003, is set on a date that marks the beginning of the Genocide that was perpetrated against the Tutsi by the Hutu extremist-led government.

Before reading the UN Secretary General’s Statement, I take this opportunity to thank the Government of Tanzania led by Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, H.E Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, for gracing this global commemoration along with other UN Member states. 

To the High Commissioner of Rwanda in Tanzania, Ambassador Major General Charles Karamba, UN Tanzania pays tribute and sends our sincere condolences to all those who lost close relatives and friends during the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. We join you in reflecting on this year’s theme which is, ‘Remember, Unite and Renew’.

I thank all Members of the Diplomatic Community present.  We also thank our dear sisters and brothers from the Rwanda Diaspora here in Tanzania-the families of the Victims of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda for joining us in reflecting on what happened at the time. Thank you, media professionals and religious leaders for being with us, as you may have learnt from the 1994 Genocide Against The Tutsi in Rwanda, you have a crucial role in guiding and forming mindsets.

In Rwanda, this day also marks the beginning of 100 days of mourning. 

During this period, the United Nations Information Centre in Dar es Salaam together with The Rwanda High Commission in Tanzania will undertake joint educational outreach activities to some schools.  The aim will be to educate the younger generation about the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda so that young people learn from our History as humanity and avoid racism, antisemitism and hatred.

We thank the new young generation of students (from Chang’ombe and Kibasila Secondary schools) who have performed today.  We thank them for sharing keen messages which continue to remind both young and old, that never again should Genocide against any tribe, race or religion happen anywhere in this world. 

The Secretary General’s statement for today stresses that we always have a choice between Humanity over Hatred and reminds us about the importance of reflecting on the events take took place to ensure we prevent them from happening again.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to deliver the United Nations Secretary General’s remarks:

And I quote:

‘‘Together, we pay tribute to the 1 million people who were murdered in just 100 days in 1994 — the overwhelming majority Tutsi, but moderate Hutu and others who opposed the genocide, too.  We honour their memory.  We stand in awe of the resilience of the survivors.  And we reflect on our failures as an international community.

The genocide was neither an accident nor unavoidable.  It was deliberate, systematic and carried out in broad daylight.  No one who followed world affairs or watched the news could deny the sickening violence taking place.  Yet too few spoke out and fewer still tried to intervene.

Much more could and should have been done.  A generation after the events, the stain of shame endures.  As we remember the bloodshed 28 years ago, we recognize that we always have a choice.  To choose humanity over hatred; compassion over cruelty; courage over complacency; and reconciliation over rage.

The principle of the responsibility to protect entails that we can no longer stand idle in the face of atrocity crimes.  Through my Call to Action and other initiatives, human rights stand firmly at the heart of everything we do.

My Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide is monitoring developments worldwide for risks of genocide and other atrocity crimes.  And I have placed the agenda of prevention at the centre of our work.

Today, international criminal justice though far from perfect has shown how perpetrators can no longer assume impunity.  The remarkable work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda the first court in history to convict an individual of genocide was instrumental in this effort.

And it has demonstrated how justice is indispensable for sustainable peace.  Rwanda today stands as a powerful testament of the human spirit’s ability to heal even the deepest wounds and emerge from the darkest depths to rebuild a stronger society.

After having suffered unspeakable gender-based violence, women today hold 60 per cent of parliamentary seats.  And Rwanda is fourth largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations risking their own soldiers to spare others the pain they themselves have known.

The genocide against the Tutsi raised questions that affect all humankind fundamental questions about the role of the Security Council, the effectiveness of peacekeeping, the need to end impunity for international crimes, the need to address the roots of violence, and the fragility of civility.

We have great tests before us.  Today, Ukraine is in flames and old and new conflicts fester in the Middle East, Africa and beyond.  The Security Council agrees mostly to disagree contributing to an environment of perceived impunity for State and non-State actors.  Wars are raging, inequalities widening, and poverty growing and all are breeding grounds of resentment, anxiety and anger.

Meanwhile, we see hate speech including dehumanizing disinformation, racist tropes and genocide denial and distortion proliferating both on and offline.  Today of all days, we must recognize the dangers of intolerance, irrationality and bigotry in every society.

As we look back with remorse, let us look ahead with resolve.  Let us commit to be ever vigilant and to never forget.  And let us pay meaningful tribute to the Rwandans who perished by building a future of dignity, tolerance and human rights for all.”

End of Quote.

Thank you for listening.

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