Maat calls for activating the Convention on the Prevention of Genocide
On the remembrance of the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Rwanda Genocide; in which more than 800,000 people were killed in systematic attacks in less than three months. Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights calls for the implementation of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Hate speech and violence in Rwanda, politically and ethnically, has led to the genocide that the world continues to remember its cruelty to this day. The same exact discourse is prevalent throughout the world nowadays, particularly in Africa. As, between the religious extremism and ethnic intolerance, hundreds and thousands of innocent people die in what is similar to genocide simply because they belong to a nationality, race, sect or religion.
Therefore, Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights demands that States assume responsibility for protection in accordance with the 2005 World Summit Outcome, as well as what was formulated in the 2009 report of the Secretary-General to implement the responsibility for protection. Along with, the provisions of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Maat also calls on States to discard differences of identity that generate conflict, as well as the implications of such differences in terms of access to power, wealth, development opportunities, citizenship and enjoyment of fundamental rights. Moreover, the rejection of those conflicts fueled by discrimination, hate speech that advocate to violence, and other human rights violations.
Furthermore, Maat applauds the Rwandan model, which has succeeded in doing so, turning Rwanda from an economically, politically and socially exhausted country into one of Africa’s fastest growing economies and eradicating possible causes of violence leading to genocide.
It is worth mentioning that Maat is currently the North African Coordinator of the Non-Governmental organizations Major Group for Africa, as well as being a member of the third General Assembly of the AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council, along with being the chairman of the International Alliance for Peace and Development, which include European, Arab and African organizations.
