On Rwanda Genocide Remembrance Day, UN Chief Warns of Rising Global Hate and Division
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New York, April 7, 2025 — As the world marks the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning: the tide of hate speech, misinformation, and societal division today bears disturbing parallels to the conditions that fueled one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.
“Today, we mourn the one million children, women, and men slaughtered in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda,” Guterres stated in his official message. “It was not a spontaneous frenzy of horrendous violence. It was intentional, premeditated and planned — including through hate speech that inflamed division and spread lies and dehumanization” (UN Press Release, SG/SM/22279).
The 1994 genocide claimed more than 1 million lives in just 100 days, predominantly among the Tutsi population, though moderate Hutus and others who opposed the killing were also targeted. It remains one of the most brutal and methodically executed genocides in recent history, a stark reminder of the catastrophic cost of unchecked hate and state-sponsored incitement.
A Cautionary Mirror to Our Times
Reflecting on current global trends, Guterres drew chilling parallels between the past and present, warning that digital technologies are now being weaponized to spread hate speech, polarize societies, and dehumanize others — just as radio propaganda and extremist publications did in Rwanda three decades ago.
“These are days of division. The narrative of ‘us’ versus ‘them’ is ascendant,” he said. “We must act to stem the tide of hate speech, stop disunity and discontent mutating into violence, uphold human rights and ensure accountability.”
His remarks come amid rising global concern over online extremism and digitally amplified misinformation. A recent UNESCO report highlighted that hate speech online, particularly against ethnic and religious minorities, has surged in recent years, with social media often serving as the main vehicle for coordinated campaigns of incitement (UNESCO, 2023).
Urging Action and Accountability
Guterres called on governments around the world to fulfill their commitments under the Global Digital Compact, a framework introduced to promote the ethical use of digital technologies, and to take concrete action against hate speech and falsehoods online. He also urged nations to ratify the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, a cornerstone treaty of international law adopted in the aftermath of World War II.
As of 2025, more than 150 UN Member States have ratified the Convention, but a number of countries still remain outside its legal framework, limiting the international community’s collective capacity to deter and respond to atrocities.
Remembrance, Justice, and a Call for Unity
In Kigali and around the world, survivors of the 1994 genocide continue to grapple with the trauma of loss while advocating for remembrance and justice. The annual commemoration serves not only as a tribute to the victims but also as a powerful call for global vigilance.
Human rights organizations have echoed Guterres’ warning, noting that political polarization, xenophobia, and ethnic violence are once again on the rise in various parts of the world — from Central Africa to parts of Asia and Europe.
“The road from division to violence is shorter than we often realize,” said Alice Wairimu Nderitu, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, during a separate UN event. “It starts with words. With narratives that exclude, demonize, and incite.”
As the international community reflects on the 1994 genocide, the UN message is clear: remembrance must not be passive. It must galvanize action — in classrooms, legislatures, and online spaces — to prevent history from repeating itself.
