United Nations, New York, April 2012 - Today, we mark the 18th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda . We remember the more than 800,000 innocent people who lost their lives.


This year's theme is "learning from history to shape a bright future". Rwanda has learned from the appalling tragedy of 1994. So has the world.


Rwanda is making progress towards building a more peaceful and just society. The international community is striving to ensure that similar tragedies never happen again.


The United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda delivered the first-ever verdicts in relation to genocide by an international court, and continues to pursue justice and accountability. The International Criminal Court has become an effective deterrent for would-be perpetrators of grave crimes.


To all those around the world who persist in suppressing their fellow citizens crying out for dignity and freedom, we send a clear message: justice will be done. Impunity must become a relic of the past.


We are also working to strengthen conflict prevention and mediation, and to uphold the responsibility to protect.


Preventing genocide is a collective obligation. Let us continue to work together to ensure a future forever free of genocide. This would be the most fitting way to remember those lost in Rwanda 18 years ago, and to honour the resilience of the survivors.

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