2021 marks the 27th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, one of the darkest chapters in human history. See the virtual memorial ceremony.

“Genocide is a human creation so there has to be a human solution to it. What the world hasn't learned is what to do about the response….The early warning is there [...] but response is extremely poor. For ‘never again’ to work, we need to invest energy in addressing the foundations that produce the people who end up becoming genociders.”

Alice Nderitu, the Secretary General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, speaks candidly, in the latest episode of Awake at Night with Melissa Fleming, about her experiences mediating in areas of conflict and how her powerful storytelling techniques built a peace agreement between 56 ethnic communities that still stands today. She also shares the indicators that can lead to violence and the importance of being an active listener.

As she describes: “I always say that, as a mediator, you have to have a very small mouth, big eyes, and big ears because you have to keep listening. Especially listen to what is not being said.”