10th Anniversary of the Rwanda Genocide

Remarks

By K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa (UN-ECA)

African Union, Addis Ababa
7 April 2004

Your Excellency President Girma Woldegiogis, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,
Your Excellency, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Rwanda,
Your Excellency Patrick Mazimhaka, Deputy chairperson of the African Union,
Honourable Commissioners of the African Union,
Distinguished members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen

The Rwanda Genocide of 1994 has left a lasting stain on the record of the United Nations organization as well as the reputation of its member States.

The reason for this is simple: the international community failed to act promptly and decisively to prevent the slaughter of nearly a million people.

Some in high places had information that an organized genocide on a massive scale was happening, in broad daylight. Many others followed news of the unfolding tragedy daily via the print and broadcast media.

Yet despite this knowledge, the international community did not respond with adequate force to prevent mass murder.

Admittedly, numerous individuals, among them many brave Rwandans as well as UN peacekeepers and civilian staff, did their best to save what lives they could.

However, as a whole, we failed Rwanda ten years ago, because we failed to show sufficient political will to act exactly when it was most needed.

As such, we are collectively guilty of sins of omission.

The General Assembly has designated 7 April as the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda. The Government of Rwanda has asked that the world's observance of the Day include a minute of silence at 12:00 noon local time in each time zone.

By observing this single minute, we are sending a message - a message of remorse for the past.

Yet as we now remember the tragic events of 1994, we must do more than admit our past mistakes. That is undoubtedly a necessary step, but we must also now commit ourselves to going much, much further.

The memory of the victims must be kept alive in our minds and we must use that memory to spur action.

It has been said many times that the murder of over eight hundred thousand people in Rwanda was preventable.

And, it has also been said that we must make sure that this never ever happens again.

But are we collectively and individually doing enough to live up to this pledge?

The UN Secretary-General recently highlighted this issue when he said, and I quote:

The genocide in Rwanda raised questions that affect all humankind -- fundamental questions about the authority of the Security Council, the effectiveness of United Nations peacekeeping, the reach of international justice, the roots of violence, and the responsibility of the international community to protect people threatened by genocide and other grave violations of human rights.

There have been some genuine advances -- practical and philosophical -- on some of these questions. But still one must ask, are we confident that, confronted by a new Rwanda today, we can respond effectively, in good time? We can by no means be certain we would.

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is time to move beyond words and gestures.

With Rwanda always fresh in our minds, we must be on-watch for any signs of similar disasters right here in our neighbourhood, across our region and around the globe.

And we must act with resolve to deal with them swiftly and hold perpetrators to account.

Regardless of the political ramifications.

For, only by acting to prevent such events ever happening again will we truly honour the victims of the Rwandan genocide.

May they rest in peace.