YouSaid · the spoken record

Rugwabiza

lines on the record: 277
first: 2016-12-08
most recent: 2023-10-26
sittings or episodes: 25
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“First, the strategic review meeting met all the goals it was tasked with, in particular the remobilization of the region, with the effective presence of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Angola and Rwanda on behalf of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the participation of ECCAS and the African Union.”
2022-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9074 (2022) · source
“I am pleased to be able to say that under the leadership of the Central African Government and the auspices of Angola and Rwanda, with MINUSCA’s support, those efforts culminated in a strategic review meeting on the political process held in Bangui on 4 June. The meeting could well make 4 June both a reference date and a critical turning point, and it should, as it involved high- level participation, including the presence of the Head of State, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Angola and Rwanda, the guarantors and facilitators of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic of 6 February 2019 and international partners, for a participatory assessment of the progress and major challenges in the implementation of the joint road map. Along with all partners, I would like to note the following.”
2022-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9074 (2022) · source
“In that regard, there are three strategic axes that underpin the efforts of the Mission and deserve the Council’s attention. There is no need to highlight the de facto inaction into which the political process has plunged, despite the importance that we all ascribe to it. That strategic priority, based on our mandate, justifies all the efforts that I have undertaken to remobilize the region in the 10 weeks since I took office, together with the Government of the Central African Republic and in close cooperation with Angola and Rwanda, mandated by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).”
2022-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9074 (2022) · source
“I would like to begin by expressing on behalf of the Secretary- General my gratitude for the Security Council’s continued interest and attention to the developments, challenges and progress relating to the implementation of the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which prompted this meeting. In the three months covered by the report (S/2022/491) submitted for the Council’s consideration, and since I took office, I have been particularly engaged, together with MINUSCA, in strengthening relations of trust with the Central African Government and remobilizing organizations and States in the region, as well as international partners, for the revitalization of the political process and the repositioning of the MINUSCA force.”
2022-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9074 (2022) · source
“Finally, it is our sincere hope that the host country will exercise its responsibility to ensure that none of the nine persons uses its territory for subversive activities that have contributed to the insecurity and instability of the Great Lakes region for the past decades. There is available evidence in their criminal records that some of them have been engaging in such activities even after their acquittal by the former International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“Thirdly, regarding the transfer of the nine Rwandans who were living in a safehouse in Arusha to a third country, we take note that eight of the nine Rwandan citizens have now been transferred to the Niger. Rwanda was surprised not to have been notified by either the Mechanism or the host country about the transfer of those nationals of Rwanda. We would appreciate clarification from the principals of the Mechanism, in the appropriate General Assembly Committee, on whether the transfer, settlement and living costs of the transferred Rwandan nationals — who, let us recall, have been free from any Mechanism proceedings for more than a decade — are part of the budget of the Mechanism.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“As all recall, more than 1.4 million Rwandans were brutally murdered within only three months during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. The Government and the people of Rwanda continue to ask themselves what the geostrategic interests of any Member State could possibly be to side with the perpetrators by helping them to hide and escape justice for crimes of genocide committed in Rwanda. The crime of genocide is imprescriptible. Rwanda will continue the search for justice for the victims and the survivors if only for two reasons: to reaffirm the dignity of the lives of those exterminated during the genocide and to hold the perpetrators accountable for their crimes and prevent them from spreading their genocide ideology beyond Rwanda’s borders.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“We hope that the next report of the Mechanism to the Security Council will comprise and inform us about progress with regard to the substance of the trial of Félicien Kabuga, instead of detailed explanations about the extended preparatory procedures. Secondly, on the remaining genocide fugitives who are still at large, I would like to commend the tireless efforts and work of Prosecutor Serge Brammertz and his Office. We note with concern that a number of Member States continue to obstruct international justice by refusing to extend cooperation to the Prosecutor’s Office. Once again, we call on all Member States to honour their international legal obligations to extend cooperation to the Office of the Prosecutor of the Mechanism.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“After escaping justice for close to three decades, 85-year-old Kabuga was arrested in France in May 2020 and transferred to the Hague Chamber of the Mechanism in October 2020. Today, more than a year later, his trial is yet to start. We remind the Council of these basic facts to underline that what is at stake is, on the one hand, justice for the victims and survivors of the genocide crimes committed and enabled by Mr. Kabuga in 1994 and, on the other, the performance of the Mechanism, which should be evaluated on its ability to deliver on its core judicial mandate. The priority of the Government of Rwanda and the priority of justice is and should be that the trial should start.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“Rwanda congratulates the Niger on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month. I thank President Agius and Prosecutor Brammertz for their progress reports and detailed briefings. We commend them for their continued efforts in the execution of the mandate of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. We wish to focus our statement on three points: first, the Kabuga trial; secondly, the remaining genocide fugitives who are still at large; and thirdly, the transfer of the nine Rwandans who were in Arusha to a third country. On the Kabuga trial, we wish to remind the Council that Félicien Kabuga is one of the masterminds of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and the only fugitive from the genocide apprehended by the Mechanism since its inception in 2010.”
2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8927 (2021) · source
“We know — and have sufficient evidence — that a major differentiating factor between women being victims of violence in armed conflict or being peace actors instead is their meaningful involvement in the full spectrum of peace at all levels. Let us all work together to make that happen and hold one another accountable on the basis of robust data and performance evaluation.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886Resumption1 (2021) · source
“Rwanda believes that addressing the challenges faced in enhancing the role of women in the peace agenda will require building effective partnerships with different stakeholders, including peacekeeping host nations, the private sector and regional and international entities. This month, Rwanda joined the Steering Committee of the Elsie Initiative Fund for Uniformed Women in Peace Operations. We very much look forward to working with all those involved to foster partnerships with national and regional stakeholders to meaningfully increase the participation of women in all United Nations peace operations.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886Resumption1 (2021) · source
“On the conflict prevention pillar, Rwanda has similarly engaged the experiences of women at the grass-roots level and dedicated resources to gender- responsive security sector reform, with a focus on fighting gender-based violence and institutionalizing access to justice at the local level through judicial access points. Currently, Rwandan women represent 50 per cent of community mediators and 48 per cent of legal advocates. In order to address gender-based violence, we have established what we call Isange one-stop centres, which provide free comprehensive services to survivors of gender-based violence, including legal, medical and psychosocial support, all in one place.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886Resumption1 (2021) · source
“The Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission, which is mandated to ensure that all demobilized ex-combatants are socially and economically reintegrated into their communities, uses a distinctively gender-sensitive approach. An example to highlight is that, in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, when the country faced insurgencies resulting from the instability in the Great Lakes region, the Government empowered local ownership of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes, from their conceptualization to their implementation. Through various initiatives, women acted as envoys and key enablers in mobilizing former combatants who had joined Rwanda in rebuilding.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886Resumption1 (2021) · source
“We place high value on understanding the local context and considering the needs, concerns and perceptions of populations that we are responsible for protecting. That includes women, youth, internally displaced persons and refugees, to mention but a few. As we reflect on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), let it not escape us that the resolution does not only address how women and girls are disproportionately impacted by violent conflict; it also stresses the critical role that women play in peace and reconciliation processes. Rwanda has prioritized the contribution of women in all stages of peacekeeping and peacebuilding.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886Resumption1 (2021) · source
“I thank Kenya for convening this important debate, highlighting the urgency to invest in women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding. I also wish to thank the Secretary- General for his remarks and the various briefers for their insightful statements. The focus of today’s debate on investing in local women in countries hosting peacekeeping operations and special political missions to accelerate the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda is close to Rwanda’s own experience. As one of the top troop- and police-contributing countries to United Nations peacekeeping, Rwanda considers the protection of civilians, in particular the most vulnerable — namely, women and children — in conflict to be at the core of United Nations peacekeeping and the benchmark of effective peacekeeping.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886Resumption1 (2021) · source
“Private-sector investment has the potential to contribute to the collective efforts towards the sustainable peace, stability and transformation of the Great Lakes region. Legitimate trade and investment are possible in the Great Lakes region if we all work together. The meeting rose at 1.25 p.m.”
2021-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8884 (2021) · source
“An important part of regional cooperation on socioeconomic development, as well as security, is cross-border trade and investment, which promote confidence-building and trust, while enabling peacebuilding efforts to take root. In that regard, Rwanda is set to host the second Great Lakes Investment and Trade Conference, which will take place in Kigali on 22 and 24 November under the theme “Navigating a COVID-impacted world — fostering resilience and sustainability through cross-border investment, trade and accelerated regional integration”. The Great Lakes Investment and Trade Conference is a follow- up to another conference that was held in Kinshasa in 2016. The objective remains to mobilize private-sector investment in the region to harness the extensive natural resources and domains of the region and the existing economic opportunities.”
2021-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8884 (2021) · source
“Secondly, the strengthening and revitalization of the disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation, as well as resettlement, of combatants is central to achieving lasting peace in the region and severing the networks of supplies of equipment, including arms and ammunition, that continue to fuel the armed groups and negative forces. Thirdly, increased security and development cooperation among States members of the Great Lakes region will make an immense contribution. The good news is that that is happening, and it should be encouraged and supported practically and effectively by the Security Council, as well as the international community.”
2021-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8884 (2021) · source
“I wish to make the following three points to the members of the Security Council. First, for the Great Lakes region to realize its potential for development and prosperity, peace and security remain the foundation. Unless the negative forces operating in the region are neutralized, lasting peace, development and prosperity will continue to be either elusive or simply not sustained. Rwanda remains committed to making its optimum contribution to peace, security and development in the Great Lakes region in close cooperation with all members of the region.”
2021-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8884 (2021) · source
“The illicit flows of arms and ammunition and the ongoing recruitment of new members by negative forces, as well as the illegal exploitation of mineral resources, mean that those forces are still able to organize and recruit new combatants, supply equipment and continue to cause instability and terrorize the local populations. In that regard, we welcome the unilateral ceasefire that was announced earlier this week by His Excellency President Faustin Touadera. We heard from him earlier this week regarding the insecurity and human rights violations that continue to be caused by armed groups that are still operating in the Central African Republic. We hope that all goodwill partners, as well as the armed groups that are parties to the peace agreement, will join in respecting and supporting the ceasefire.”
2021-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8884 (2021) · source
“Despite these circumstances, foreign and domestic “negative forces” operating in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo continue to remain active. The recent report of the Secretary- General (S/2021/836) indicates that grave human rights violations continue to take place in the Great Lakes region, including in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda has faced as number of cross-border attacks from negative forces that are illegally operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The most recent attack occurred on 27 August, when members of the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda crossed the border into Rwanda through the Rubavu district before being neutralized.”
2021-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8884 (2021) · source
“João Samuel Caholo, for their very insightful briefings. I also wish to acknowledge the representatives of the countries of the region and welcome in particular the presence today of His Excellency Mr. Téte António, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Angola and, through him, salute the leadership of Angola as the current President of the ICGLR and the impressive efforts that Angola has been making in support of peace and security in the Great Lakes region. I also wish to acknowledge the presence in this Chamber of the High Representative of the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr. Claude Ibalanky Ekolomba. Today’s debate is taking place at a time when the countries of our region are facing the full-blown social and economic impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.”
2021-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8884 (2021) · source
“Rwanda congratulates the Republic of Kenya and you, Madam President, for Kenya’s presidency of the Security Council during this month and, more importantly, for organizing today’s very important Council debate on supporting the renewed commitment of the countries of the Great Lakes region in seeking sustainable solutions to root causes and drivers of conflict. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Mr. Vincent Biruta, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda, who could not join today’s important debate owing to unavoidable circumstances. I thank the Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Mrs. Martha Pobee, the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, Mr. Huang Xia, the Executive Secretary of the International Conference of the Great Lake Region (ICGLR), Mr.”
2021-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8884 (2021) · source
“The Government of Rwanda welcomes the prosecution of those who interfere with witnesses with the aim to revise established facts. We agree with the Prosecutor that such contempt of court is a form of genocide denial and those guilty of it must face the force of the law.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“Failure to comply with both the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council resolutions and decisions to cooperate and bring genocide fugitives to justice has a negative impact on the maintenance of international peace and security, which should be obvious to the Council. The attacks of extreme violence perpetrated against populations by armed groups in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which were formed and funded by genocide fugitives, are well-documented and their crimes against civilians of communities to which they fled have often been reported to the Council. In conclusion, I wish to say a few words about the issue of genocide denial. The Office of the Prosecutor has regularly reported on genocide denial. Rwanda and many other countries have expressed their grave concern in that regard.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“Those developments demonstrate that justice can be rendered where there is political will to extend judicial cooperation to bring to justice those responsible for crimes against humanity. As indicated in the report of the Prosecutor, a number of genocide fugitives live in African countries. This is the place for us to recall the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council decision PSC/PR/ COMM.(CMLXXXIX), dated 12 April, which calls on all African Union member States to investigate, arrest, prosecute or extradite the genocide fugitives currently residing on their territories.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“We also welcome the cooperation extended by the law enforcement agencies of France, which led to the arrest of genocide fugitive and mastermind Félicien Kabuga in May 2020. He had been on the run for more than two decades. We welcome too the more recent decision by the French judiciary to set the trial date for genocide fugitive Laurent Bucyibaruta, who resides in France. The date has been set for 9 May 2022. Lastly, we welcome the start of the trial proceedings for both Kabuga and Bucyibaruta and encourage the courts to accelerate the proceedings to allow the long-delayed justice to finally be rendered. We wish to express our appreciation for the cooperation extended by the United States with regard to the recent extradition to Rwanda of genocide fugitive Beatrice Munyenyezi in April.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“Let us recall that Rwanda sent out more than a thousand indictments to countries around the world, requesting their cooperation with the arrest and prosecution of genocide fugitives or their transfer to Rwanda. Few countries have responded to these indictments. Rwanda commends countries that have extended cooperation to the Office of the Prosecutor of the Mechanism and to the Rwanda prosecution. Rwanda welcomes the commitment of His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of France, during his visit to Rwanda last month to pursuing efforts to seek justice for the victims and survivors of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda by bringing to justice the alleged perpetrators living on French territory.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“I thank President Agius and Prosecutor Brammertz for their progress reports and detailed briefings. We commend them for their continued efforts in the execution of the mandate of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. We appreciate the good cooperation existing between the Mechanism and the Government of Rwanda. We express our sincere condolences to the Mechanism on the passing of Judge Gberdao Gustave Kam, of Burkina Faso. Rwanda notes the focus of both briefers’ reports on the remaining fugitives. We are disappointed by the continued lack of effective cooperation from Member States. This is the single most important impediment to the completion of the mandate the Security Council gave to the Mechanism, and it calls for the Council’s urgent attention.”
2021-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8790 (2021) · source
“We support the recommendations of the Secretary-General contained in his report to the General Assembly entitled "Assessment of the Police Division" (A/74/223). Peacekeeping transition is a critical moment for both the host nation and the United Nations. The United Nations Police plays a necessary and very important role in ensuring that host nations' authorities are prepared for and capable of upholding peace and security. There is a great need to reinforce the support provided in terms of the necessary capabilities and resources for the police division and police components in the field missions.”
2019-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8612 (2019) · source
“Such enhanced cooperation should be based on the African Union and United Nations respective authorities, competencies and capacities. The partnership should respect the principles of burden-sharing, consultative decision-making processes, comparative advantage, division of labour and mutual accountability. We understand that strengthening that partnership is not uniquely shouldered by the Secretariat. We call on Council members to consider more seriously the elements of burden-sharing. With regard to my fifth point, allow me to commend the role of the United Nations Police in facilitating the protection of civilians, strengthening and extending the rule of law and contributing to the proper and coordinated peace transitions of peacekeeping missions.”
2019-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8612 (2019) · source
“In that regard, we are taking practical measures to support the United Nations ambition to increase the percentage of female peacekeepers deployed. We welcome the efforts to incentivize the deployment of a greater number of women in military and police contingents in United Nations peacekeeping operations and would recall resolution 2242 (2015) as well as its aspiration to increase the number of women in such contingents. My fourth point concerns United Nations cooperation with regional organizations. We welcome the strengthening of the cooperation framework between the United Nations and the African Union, and we would like to see the spirit of that partnership extended to all aspects ofpeacekeeping missions in Africa.”
2019-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8612 (2019) · source
“Evidence shows that having women in meaningful roles increases the effectiveness of peacekeeping and improves missions' abilities to protect civilians. Rwanda is proud to be a contributor of female police personnel in peacekeeping missions, but we agree with Under- Secretary-General Lacroix that we can, and must, do much more. My country's Mission and police division and the United Nations Police Division are currently finalizing arrangements to send a United Nations selection and assistance assessment team solely for female peacekeepers and police experts before the end of this year. Recruiting women in peacekeeping reduces the risk of conflict and community confrontation. It provides a larger sense of security to local populations, including, and especially, women and children.”
2019-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8612 (2019) · source
“In July, the Rwanda Police Academy, in partnership with Sweden, concluded a training course for United Nations military experts that involved 26 countries, in particular officers from the East African Standby Force. We believe that such triangular partnerships should be further encouraged. Similarly, in August, the Rwanda Defence Force, in partnership with United States Army, African partner military allies and international organizations, successfully concluded Exercise Shared Accord in Rwanda. Once again, we believe that such exercises increase readiness, interoperability and partnership-building among participating nations in peacekeeping operations. My third point concerns women in peacekeeping. We cannot overemphasize the importance of women's involvement at all levels of peacekeeping.”
2019-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8612 (2019) · source
“Indeed, troop and police units require the right capabilities and equipment to meet the challenges faced on the ground - an endeavour that cannot fall short of adapting to new technologies. Additionally, we must be resolute in ensuring that we have the necessary data, particularly with regard to situational awareness, to inform all operations. That can minimize threats and reduce peacekeeper fatalities and injuries. Training is central to performance. United Nations peacekeeping requires training that is tailored to the peacekeeping operation environment at hand. In that regard, we would like to commend the proactive involvement of a number of partners in the wake of the Action for Peacekeeping initiative. They have become much more proactive in terms of entering new partnerships.”
2019-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8612 (2019) · source
“We encourage all Members to implement the Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians. My second point concerns the performance and accountability ofUnited Nations peacekeeping, which is a broad yet essential area ofpeacekeeping. Peacekeeping is an undertaking predicated on partnership. Therefore, performance assessment should not be exclusively focused on uniformed units. Performance can be jeopardized by a number of other factors, including ambiguous mandates, excessive delays and arrears in the reimbursement of troop-contributing countries and restrictions imposed by host nations. We would like to have a comprehensive performance assessment that does not focus on only some partners, while leaving out others.”
2019-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8612 (2019) · source
“We also know that in the absence of capabilities or the will of countries to protect their populations during conflict, that same absence can threaten regional and international peace and security. In such situations, it is the responsibility of the Security Council to engage all possible means, measures and resources to protect civilians. That requires a unified understanding of the protection of civilians among peacekeeping partners and collective support for protection-of-civilian initiatives. Rwanda is one of the advocates of the Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians. The Principles address all key aspects necessary to ensure the effective protection of civilians, including assessment, planning, force generation, training, equipment, performance and accountability.”
2019-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8612 (2019) · source
“Peacekeeping is one- ifnot the most important- of the tools that the United Nations has in the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security. It is able to create a favourable space for a nationally owned political solution. Peacekeeping currently continues to face several challenges, including capabilities issues, and at times, especially recently, a lack of sufficient resources and incongruities between mandates and resources. Rwanda continues to play a critical role in peacekeeping, and, as a top troop-contributing country, it reaffirms its unwavering commitment to United Nations peacekeeping. In that regard, I wish to make the following points. First, we recognize that the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians lies with countries.”
2019-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8612 (2019) · source
“Today's debate is timely in that on 25 September, we will be marking the one-year anniversary of the launch of the endorsement of the Declaration of Shared Commitments on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. It is the right time to take stock of whether we are delivering on the commitments and pledges we made in connection with United Nations peacekeeping operations. The report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (see S/2015/446), as well as the recommendations of the Secretary-General, rightly acknowledged the primacy of politics. It is therefore right that peacekeeping reforms have prioritized prevention and sustaining peace, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and coherence of peacekeeping operations and special political missions.”
2019-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8612 (2019) · source
“I would also like to join Council members in thanking the Russian Federation for having convened this important debate on United Nations peacekeeping operations. I thank the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Mr. J ean-Pierre Lacroix, for his comprehensive briefing, which once again highlighted the Secretariat's commitment to making United Nations peacekeeping more effective and proactive, as well as for sharing with us a number of points where progress has been made. Let me also thank previous speakers for their invaluable contributions to today's discussions. I would also like to present Rwanda's heartfelt condolences to the people and the Government of Burkina Faso following the most recent terrorist attacks in the north of the country.”
2019-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8612 (2019) · source
“We also call on Member States hosting genocide fugitives to cooperate more effectively with the Office of the Prosecutor in order to hold them to account for the crimes committed in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. To end on a more positive note, in today's Rwanda genocide survivors and perpetrators live side by side, on the same hills and in the same communities, in peaceful coexistence. The delivery ofjustice in Rwanda has been central to making this possible by fighting the culture of impunity, bringing communities back together and rebuilding the social fabric destroyed in 1994.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8576 (2019) · source
“In one case, these allowances have been paid for 15 years. Rwanda believes that they are unjustified and should simply be stopped. In conclusion, the four points I have outlined reflect Rwanda's assessment of the poor performance of the Mechanism over the past seven years and its failure to deliver on its core mission to complete the unfinished work of the former ICTR and ICTY. Rwanda expects an improved performance and meaningful cooperation with the Mechanism under the leadership of Judge Agius. We are encouraged by his constructive dialogue and engagement with all stakeholders, including my Government, since he took office six months ago.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8576 (2019) · source
“With regard to the release of genocide convicts, as was mentioned by the President, Judge Agius, nine convicts released or acquitted by the court still live in Arusha at the expense of Member States, including Rwanda, as their living costs and accommodation are paid through Members' assessed contributions to the Mechanism's budget. That in itself symbolizes the tragic irony of the international justice system. Some Member States find it difficult to cooperate with the Office of the Prosecutor in bringing to book those who committed the most atrocious crimes, and yet find it normal that their taxpayers' money is used to offer living allowances to those released many years after their acquittal. In some cases, living expenses and allowances have been paid by the ICTR - and later, by the Mechanism - for more than a decade.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8576 (2019) · source
“Sosthene Munyemana, Dr. Eugene Rwamucyo, Dr. Marcel Bivugabagabo and Dr. Charles Twagira, who are also still living in France. The Prosecutor reported a very concerning trend of systematic retrials and appeals, where witnesses have been pressured or corrupted to change their positions. A case in point is the multi-accused contempt case in the Prosecutor v. Maximilien Turinabo et al. trial. We commend the Office of the Prosecutor in the case Prosecutor v. Augustin Ngirabatware of genocide convict Mr. Ngirabatware, where it was established that witnesses were corrupted in contempt of court. That, however, is far from being an isolated case. All previous retrials have been subject to similar practices.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8576 (2019) · source
“We urge all Member States, in particular members of the Council, to walk the walk of commitment to international law, the rule of law and justice, either by prosecuting the individuals indicted and living on their territory or by transferring them to Rwanda to face prosecution. In particular, we call for the arrest or trial of Dr. Vincent Bajinya, Emmanuel Nteziryayo, Charles Munyaneza, Celestin Ugirashebuja and Celestin Mutabaruka, who are still living freely in the United Kingdom. We also call for the cooperation of South Africa in arresting Mr. Kayishema Fulgence, who is still living in South Africa, despite several calls for cooperation from the Prosecutor. We welcome France's efforts in bringing fugitives who took refuge in France to justice and encourage them to continue those efforts, in particular, with the cases of Dr.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8576 (2019) · source
“Furthermore, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Rwanda has also sent out 1,000 indictments to more than 34 countries around the world, requesting their cooperation in arresting and prosecuting individuals who have been indicted or in transferring them to Rwanda to face justice. We echo the call made by the Office ofthe Prosecutor to all Members to adhere to their international legal obligations and provide the assistance needed to locate and apprehend genocide fugitives. We thank Member States that have cooperated - in particular Canada, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Germany, Malawi, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United States of America - in the transfer to Rwanda or prosecution in their national courts of genocide convicts.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8576 (2019) · source
“We expect the President of the Mechanism to implement the spirit and letter of resolution 2422 (2018), adopted last year, and put in place clear conditions to any early release as a matter of agency and the prerequisite for considering new applications. It is only in doing so that we can make it costly for those released if they were to engage in activities promoting genocide ideology in the future. With regard to fugitives still at large, the Office of the Prosecutor has noted in several of its reports that progress in locating, tracking and arresting the remaining eight indicted fugitives has been hampered by the failure of some Member States and other relevant authorities to cooperate with the requests.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8576 (2019) · source
“It is also worth noting that genocide convicts who were granted early release never expressed a shred of remorse for the crimes they committed during the genocide and, since their release, several of them have joined associations denying the genocide or promoting the genocide ideology. And yet, they were considered by the Mechanism on the basis of reports received from prisons that they had been rehabilitated because they had demonstrated good behaviour, such as regularly attending prison mass services or participating in gardening - none of which, members will agree, is relevant to the crimes of which they were convicted.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8576 (2019) · source
“In the future, we very much expect meaningful cooperation with the Government of Rwanda and all relevant stakeholders prior to the consideration of applications for early release. On that point, we wish to sincerely thank all members of the Council that have emphasized the importance of having clear criteria in the spirit and letter of resolution 2422 (2018). In all cases of early release but one, decisions were made without conditions. The only case to which conditions were attached was that of Mr. Aloys Simba, a former lieutenant colonel who organized large-scale killings in the south of Rwanda and whose early release was sneaked through by the former President of the Mechanism, a week before the end of his tenure as President of the court.”
2019-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8576 (2019) · source