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Remarks by the President of the UN General Assembly<\/strong><\/p>\n H.E. Mr. Philemon Yang<\/strong><\/p>\n at the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 7 April 2025,\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n GA Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n [As Delivered]\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today, we observe the anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This annual period of remembrance, known as Kwibuka, is a solemn reminder of the more than one million lives lost.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lives of innocent men, women and children who were hunted and slaughtered in just 100 days.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Genocide against the Tutsi was one of the darkest chapters in recent human history.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But beyond the horror of the killings,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beyond the unspeakable pain inflicted upon families and communities,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There is another devastating truth:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We, as the international community, failed Rwanda.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Despite early warnings,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Despite clear signs of impending catastrophe,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The world stood by as the killing unfolded.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Governments debated while cries for help went unanswered, while lives were lost.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today, as we reflect on our failure, we must ask: Have we truly learned from the past?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have we done enough to ensure that such atrocities never happen again?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Or is it happening somewhere, as we speak now?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The ideology that justified the Genocide against the Tutsi has not been eradicated.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is alive and well, festering in the shadows of our societies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is spreading through hate speech, intolerance, and misinformation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is elevated by extremists through social media.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And it is accelerated by the explosive onset of artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We cannot let this stand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Action is absolutely necessary.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We must counter hate at every turn \u2013 in all its forms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We must challenge dangerous narratives before they take hold.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n before such narratives spread to all parts of the world.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The responsibility is ours:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n -\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002To reject divisive rhetoric;<\/p>\n -\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002To stand against discrimination;<\/p>\n -\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002To act before it is too late; and<\/p>\n -\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002To ensure that the next generations are not poisoned by the same hatred that led to the horrors of 1994 in Rwanda.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today, as we honour the experience of the survivors and memory of the victims,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We must promote tolerance, respect and understanding among all peoples, no matter our race, religion or any other belief.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rwanda\u2019s journey since 1994 has been long and difficult.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The scars, both visible and invisible, remain.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Survivors carry the immense burden of lifelong trauma.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yet, against all odds, the Rwandan people have shown extraordinary resilience.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Well done.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They understood that to rebuild, they had to embrace unity, forgiveness and love.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A choice made not out of ease, but necessity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Through incredible courage, they have shown us that reconciliation is the only path forward.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is a testament to the determination of the Rwandan people.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Over the decades, the international community too has established notable milestones:<\/p>\n -\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002The Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect,<\/p>\n -\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda,<\/p>\n -\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002The International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and<\/p>\n -\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002The inclusion of four memorials to the 1994 Genocide on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As we reflect upon the past, we must remember that genocide can happen anywhere \u2014 and at any time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rwanda\u2019s remarkable transformation is a testament to the power of choice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A choice of healing over revenge, progress over division, unity over hatred.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let us continue to be inspired by this lesson in perseverance.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is a lesson about the consequences of unchecked hate and a failure to act.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let us commit today, and every day, to standing against the forces that seek to tear us apart.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And honour the promise of \u201cnever again\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Never again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let Kwibuka be not just a remembrance of what was lost, but a rallying call to defend what we hold dear: our shared humanity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I thank you.<\/p>\n * ***** *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: +1 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email: birchs@un.org<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser\/ Social and Digital Media\/Media Relations, M: +1 917 3614990, Email: mariam.shaikh@un.org<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n <\/p>\n More Information and Updates\u00a0: Website<\/a><\/u>: \u00a0YouTube: <\/a><\/u>\u00a0X (Twitter):<\/a><\/u>\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/u>: \u00a0LinkedIn: <\/a><\/u>\u00a0Photo Repository<\/a><\/u>: Bluesky<\/a><\/u>; Weekly Highlights<\/a><\/u>; <\/u>Resolutions of the 79th Session \u2013 UN General Assembly<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/2GfDnYzEMys?si=ij8De0zePb1ssmG6″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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\u00a0 7 April […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":373,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[81,111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-284448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","category-speeches","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n
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