From 1^st to 3^rd November 2018 held, at Sacramento State Campus – USA, the 5^th international conference on Genocide where the Rwandan delegation was represented by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Busingye Johnston. This conference which was organized by the Ethnic Studies Department in collaboration with its partners was held under the theme: “Forms of Genocide Across the Globe: Challenges, Responses, and Accountability,”

While addressing to the participant, Minister Busingye said that there are no crimes without perpetrators and victims. He explained that all genocides come from an ideology of hatred, segregation, division, rejection of others and violence. “This is taught, disseminated and publicly inculcated with the intention of extermination of a particular group of people. It is this ideology that lawyers call the intention of committing genocide that distinguishes genocide from other crimes against humanity.”

He further added that a comprehensive mechanism to carry out the Genocide was put in place, including the creation, training and arming of militias, creation of hate media, and drawing up of lists of people to be killed.

“Negationism can in no way be accepted as a tolerable opinion or a legitimate right. Genocide denial is a crime. It is for this reason that it must be fought by all means, starting with the scientific and academic community.” Minister Busingye emphasized

The conference focused on the collective memory of genocide including denial, impunity, and arrests in aftermath, survivor testimony and prevention.

Click to read the full speech by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General