Rwanda Considers Action Against UN
Still learning the lessons from the 1994 genocide
The Rwandan government may pursue legal action against the UN for its failure to prevent the 1994 genocide. Could this impact how other humanitarian crises are handled?
It has almost been thirteen years since the Rwandan Genocide and survivors are still living with the aftershocks of the massacre where almost one million people were killed in a hundred days. Statistics collected by the Rwandan government indicate, for example, that there are over 14,000 widows and 19,400 child-headed households because of the genocide, only a fraction of the horrific legacy of this tragedy.
The United Nations (UN) observes April 7 as 'International Day of reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda,' a date worthy of the reminder considering the ethnic cleansing that persists in western Sudan. But Rwandans continue to blame the UN for standing by as thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered and it appears that the government is considering taking action against the UN for allowing genocide to happen.
Kigali is currently discussing legal issues with its ambassador to the UN and if a lawsuit evolves, it would set an interesting precedent. It may send a stronger message, for instance, on how the situation should be handled in Darfur. If a case emerges, it could force leaders, countries and organizations to be more aware of their accountablity for such humanitarian crises.
While there has been recent, if not belated, progress, the UN's attempt to exert its influence over Khartoum has been supremely unsuccessful, demonstrating its lack of clout and often-ineffective role as the peacekeeping force it should be. But it is quite easy, perhaps unfairly easy, to accuse the UN of its shortcomings given its lack of support. The fact is that each person has the opportunity to demand a stronger stance from their leaders in order to prevent these atrocities, especially once they are underway. In essence, it is the whole of humanity that failed Rwanda and the fate of those in Darfur rests in our decisions, or lack thereof.
