Please read the following statement from Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich—Gulf Islands and Leader of the Green Party of Canada, recognising the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda:
“Today we commemorate the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The slaughter of nearly one million people in just 100 days was preceded by a forced exodus of hundreds of thousands as the international community stood by, despite having witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust and Armenian genocide first-hand. Sexual violence was systemically deployed against hundreds of thousands. In the following decades, Rwandans have demonstrated incredible resilience and rebuilt their country that is often referred to as “land of a thousand hills” for its breathtaking landscapes.
Canada and the world needed to step up and we failed. We can say “never again”, but it is clear that this continues to take place over and over in regions all around the world. Palestinians, Yazidis, Uyghurs and more are seeing their basic rights violated. Here in Canada, the genocide of Indigenous peoples continues to be a fixture of our colonial institutions and society. Human rights are universal. A necessary part of marking this solemn anniversary is committing to action and to ensure that the right of peoples to live in security and peace are respected by and for all.”