Rwanda calls for end to hate speech, dehumanization

Speaking at the Conference on the 30th Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Nairobi, Ngoga stressed the gradual emergence of genocidal tendencies from deep-rooted prejudices, discrimination, and the systematic dehumanization of specific groups, as witnessed in Rwanda.

Addressing over 500 attendees, Ngoga underscored the disturbing proliferation of hate speech and incitement to violence, reminiscent of the pre-genocide era in Rwanda.

He urged for resolute and timely action by the global community to counter these perilous trends, emphasizing their threat to human rights, social stability, and peace.

“As we renew our resolve to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again, we are seeing dangerous trends of rising hate speech and intolerance in many parts of the world. Particularly troubling is the current widespread proliferation of hate speech and incitement to violence, things that were very clearly present in Rwanda immediately before the genocide,” he said.

He went on to say that these vices threaten human rights, social stability and peace, hence calling for decisive, deliberate and timely actions by the international community.

Echoing Ngoga's sentiments, PLO Lumumba, a prominent pan-Africanist and Founder of PLO Lumumba Foundation, lamented humanity's failure to learn from history, noting the tragic recurrence of genocides despite international conventions.

Lumumba emphasized the necessity for constant vigilance to prevent such atrocities and preserve human dignity.

“We must never forget that eternal vigilance is critical that we may preserve dignity among men. If we are not eternally vigilant, then we are likely to repeat the things that harm us. We cannot afford the luxury of doing nothing when we know that the perpetrators of evil are always in the business of planning the next evil,” he noted.

Nobody needs to be told of the pain that hatred occasions to man, he observed, reiterating the need to remain vigilant and prevent the repeat of such atrocities.

The failure of the international community

Contributing to the discussion, Charity Kagwi-Ndungu, Former Trial Attorney at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), criticized the international community's inaction during the Rwandan Genocide. She suggested that with stronger resolve and global cooperation, the severity of the genocide could have been mitigated.

“The world community could have done better for Rwanda. During that time there was still a lot of help and sympathy going to Habyarimana's regime.Also, the Security Council refused to use the word genocide because it would have required a global response,” she explained.

Meanwhile, according to Lonzen Rugira who also participated in the panel discussion, one of the remaining challenges following the Genocide against the Tutsi is refusing to repatriate or try genocide suspects who are still roaming freely in many parts of the world, consequently denying justice to genocide victims.

“If these countries are refusing to send them to Rwanda or prosecute them where they are, it means they are facilitating the evasion of justice, and, therefore, accomplices in these crimes,” he said.