The African Commission calls for vigilance in heeding the lessons from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda on the occasion of the 29th commemoration of the genocide
GHRTV
04-06-2023
Author: Jacob Odeh
International Justice and Human Rights Researcher
Global Human Rights Defence
In commemorating the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has joined Rwanda, the African Union (AU) member states, and the international community. The Commission has expressed its solidarity with the survivors and commended Rwanda for the progress it has made in rebuilding infrastructure destroyed during the genocide. However, it has also reminded authorities of the need to fight against the ideology of genocide and genocide denialism and to uphold the rights and freedoms enshrined under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The Commission has emphasized the relevance of lessons from the genocide in today's world, where ethnic, cultural, racial, and religious tensions remain significant threats to peace and security. The Commission has stressed the applicability of the genocide's lessons to the present, where racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious divisions continue to pose serious risks to international peace and security.
Sources and further reading:
African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, 'African Commission Calls for Vigilance in Heeding Lessons from the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda', Press Release (6 April 2023)
