Calling for urgent attention to prevent the ultimate crime

Calling for urgent attention to prevent the ultimate crime

Calling for urgent attention to prevent the ultimate crime

“Genocide
is the ultimate crime: a profound and whole-scale violation of human
rights,” said UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay at a high level
discussion to mark the sixty-fifth anniversary of the UN Convention on
the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

“Too often, it is preceded by repeated warning signs that fail to receive a strong and early international response,” she said.

Esther Mujawayo, a sociologist and Rwanda genocide survivor, told her
moving story to the participants comprising of representatives from
States, national human rights institutions and NGOs.

“We had been feeling the tension increase for a long time”, she said,
recalling the catchy propaganda songs which called for the
extermination of the Tutsi.

During her opening remarks, Pillay recounted her time as a Judge and
the then President of the Rwanda Tribunal. “I heard witnesses and
victims testify that direct and public incitement to commit genocide
against Tutsis permeated gradually through society.”