The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda, Olivier Nduhungirehe, has announced that Rwanda has been engaged in discussions with major social media companies to address the issue of genocide denial and hate speech, particularly in relation to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Nduhungirehe made this statement on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, during a side event on the impact of hate speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The session also included Alice Nderitu, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide.
The Minister emphasized that while technology is beneficial, it is crucial to establish mechanisms that prevent the use of online platforms for spreading genocide denial, hate speech, and other harmful content. He highlighted that 30 years after the Genocide against the Tutsi, perpetrators and deniers continue to use these platforms to spread disinformation freely.
Nduhungirehe pointed out that while tech companies have taken steps to counter disinformation related to issues such as vaccines, they have been slower to act against those responsible for the deaths of over a million people. He noted that platforms like YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook are commonly used by individuals denying or minimizing the genocide daily.
Rwanda has been in talks with these tech companies to encourage them to take action against such harmful content. However, there are still significant challenges in getting these platforms to effectively address genocide denial and hate speech.
Nduhungirehe also raised concerns about the continuing persecution of Tutsis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), noting that the world seems to have learned little from the genocide. He mentioned that hate speech is still prevalent in the region, contributing to violence against Tutsis in Congo.
Alice Nderitu, in her remarks, shared the distress she experienced during her recent visit to Rwanda, where she met Congolese Tutsi refugees. She lamented that the same tactics used during the genocide are being employed against Tutsis in Congo today, underscoring the need for more decisive action.
The ongoing violence against Tutsis in eastern DRC, fueled by hate speech spread through social media and supported by political leaders, remains a pressing issue that both Rwanda and the international community are working to address.
