UN Resident Coordinator Remarks at the 30the Commemoration of Genocide against the Tutsi

Your Highness Princess Dina Mired,

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests, 

Esteemed colleagues, 

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, as we gather to mark three decades since the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, we embrace the profound theme: “Remember. Unite. Renew.” 

On April 7, 1994, and during the nearly 100 days that followed, one million Tutsi children, women, and men were mercilessly killed by their fellow Rwandans. This atrocity saw families turn against each other and friends become adversaries.

We gather not only to reflect on those tragic days, which witnessed the catastrophic loss of up to a million lives, but also to honor the resilience and bravery of those who survived. Their courage and willingness to forgive continue to offer a burst of light and hope amidst one of the most challenging chapters in human history.

Thirty years on, this catastrophic event should forever shock the conscience of humanity, serving as a grim reminder of the devastating effects of hatred and the critical need for tolerance and peace.

Today, we remind ourselves of genocide’s rancid root: hate, racism…and the list can go longer.

Today, we must ask ourselves: What have we truly learned from this?

As we reflect on this, our thoughts also turn to the current tragedies unfolding across our region and around the world, including next door in Gaza. 

On 9 December 1948, the first human rights treaty in the history of the United Nations was adopted. This was the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The Genocide Convention calls on all States, and all of us, to maintain vigilance, and push for action to prevent genocide, everywhere. In reality, genocide is never unleashed without warning. It is always the culmination of serious human rights violations– which have been ignored often for too long.

Thirty years on, what Rwanda has taught us is invaluable—not just the stark realities of how quickly humanity can spiral into chaos if voices for peace and equal rights do not step in, but also the enduring strength of the human spirit to rebuild and renew.  

Rwanda's journey of recovery and transformation demonstrates that through unity and a shared commitment to human rights and dignity, rebuilding is indeed possible.

As we commemorate this anniversary, let us renew our dedication to preventing such atrocities. Strengthen our resolve to protect, to prevent, and to act. 

To those who continue to suffer from wars and conflicts today, we extend our solidarity and support. Let their plight remind us of our collective responsibility to foster peace and ensure a future where such tragedies are mere relics of the past, never to be repeated.

In September, world leaders will convene in New York for the landmark Summit of the Future, aimed at reforming our systems to better meet current and future global challenges. This is our chance. The summit presents an opportunity to voice valid critiques and frustrations with the global order and to propose innovative and transformative solutions for more equal, representative, transparent and effective multilateralism. 

The tragic events of 1994 in Rwanda must forever serve as a constant reminder of the need to do everything in our power to prevent the crime of genocide worldwide.

Thank you.