SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 55

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 7, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 55 - Apr/7/22
Ms. Arielle Kayabaga (London West, Lib.)
  • Apr/7/22 2:21:29 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, 28 years ago today, more than one million people died in the genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda, and to this the world said “never again”. “Never again”, but yet again the world is dealing with the consequences of not seeing each other's humanity. I want Rwandans watching this today from my riding of London West and across Canada to know that the world sees them and the world recognizes their resilience and willingness to rebuild and to walk the path of reconciliation no matter how hard it is and how hard it has been. They have chosen healing and rebuilding. As I stand before the House today, 82 million people have been forcibly displaced across the world. The Ukrainian and Afghanistan crises alone have created respectively 6.3 million refugees. I want all of us to reflect on these numbers. It is our job as leaders to carry out the “never again” words in our actions to ensure that the next generation of Rwandans, of Tutsis across the world, do not have to face another moment to invoke these words. On behalf of all Rwandans who are no longer with us today, on behalf of the children of families, including my own, who have been forever changed by what happened during the cold nights of April 1994, I say to them “never again”. I ask members of the House to stand with me in a moment of silence for the voices that will never speak again. Let us commit to never sit in silence and always use our voices and actions to fight against hatred and discrimination of all kinds. Twibuke twiyubaka.
284 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border