Remarks by the President of the UN General Assembly
H.E. Mr. Philemon Yang
at the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda
7 April 2025,
GA Hall
[As Delivered]
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, we observe the anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
This annual period of remembrance, known as Kwibuka, is a solemn reminder of the more than one million lives lost.
Lives of innocent men, women and children who were hunted and slaughtered in just 100 days.
The Genocide against the Tutsi was one of the darkest chapters in recent human history.
But beyond the horror of the killings,
Beyond the unspeakable pain inflicted upon families and communities,
There is another devastating truth:
We, as the international community, failed Rwanda.
Despite early warnings,
Despite clear signs of impending catastrophe,
The world stood by as the killing unfolded.
Governments debated while cries for help went unanswered, while lives were lost.
Today, as we reflect on our failure, we must ask: Have we truly learned from the past?
Have we done enough to ensure that such atrocities never happen again?
Or is it happening somewhere, as we speak now?
The ideology that justified the Genocide against the Tutsi has not been eradicated.
It is alive and well, festering in the shadows of our societies.
It is spreading through hate speech, intolerance, and misinformation.
It is elevated by extremists through social media.
And it is accelerated by the explosive onset of artificial intelligence.
We cannot let this stand.
Action is absolutely necessary.
We must counter hate at every turn – in all its forms.
We must challenge dangerous narratives before they take hold.
before such narratives spread to all parts of the world.
The responsibility is ours:
- To reject divisive rhetoric;
- To stand against discrimination;
- To act before it is too late; and
- To ensure that the next generations are not poisoned by the same hatred that led to the horrors of 1994 in Rwanda.
Today, as we honour the experience of the survivors and memory of the victims,
We must promote tolerance, respect and understanding among all peoples, no matter our race, religion or any other belief.
Education about the 1994 Genocide is the most important way to keep the memory of the victims alive in all places, and the lessons of unchecked hate focused head-on.
Rwanda’s journey since 1994 has been long and difficult.
The scars, both visible and invisible, remain.
Survivors carry the immense burden of lifelong trauma.
Yet, against all odds, the Rwandan people have shown extraordinary resilience.
Well done.
They understood that to rebuild, they had to embrace unity, forgiveness and love.
A choice made not out of ease, but necessity.
Through incredible courage, they have shown us that reconciliation is the only path forward.
This is a testament to the determination of the Rwandan people.
Over the decades, the international community too has established notable milestones:
- The Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect,
- The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda,
- The International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and
- The inclusion of four memorials to the 1994 Genocide on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
As we reflect upon the past, we must remember that genocide can happen anywhere — and at any time.
Rwanda’s remarkable transformation is a testament to the power of choice.
A choice of healing over revenge, progress over division, unity over hatred.
Let us continue to be inspired by this lesson in perseverance.
It is a lesson about the consequences of unchecked hate and a failure to act.
And it is a clear reminder that even in the darkest of times, humanity can choose to rise. To build a future that honours the past and embraces the future.
Let us commit today, and every day, to standing against the forces that seek to tear us apart.
And honour the promise of “never again”.
Never again.
Let Kwibuka be not just a remembrance of what was lost, but a rallying call to defend what we hold dear: our shared humanity.
I thank you.
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Media Contacts
Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: +1 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email: birchs@un.org
Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser/ Social and Digital Media/Media Relations, M: +1 917 3614990, Email: mariam.shaikh@un.org
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