PREVENTION OF ATROCITIES - DAG SPEECH

REMARKS BY GEORGE M. MASAJU, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL - UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE CLOSING OF THE HIGH LEVEL WORKING MEETING ON   PREVENTION OF ATROCITIES, THE 20TH DAY OF MARCH, 2013 AT DAR ES SALAAM

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,

Your Excellency Olvier Chave, Ambassador of Switzerland in Tanzania

Your Excellency Jonny Flento, Ambassador of Denmark in Tanzania.

Your Excellency Alberic Kacou, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Systems in Tanzania,

Excellencies Ambassadors and High Commissioners,

Distinguished Representatives of the Government, 

Distinguished Representatives of International Organizations,

Distinguished Representatives of Civil Society Organizations,

Facilitators,

Distinguished Participants, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon.

We have come to the end of what was on all accounts a very   successful   high   level   working   meeting   on   the Prevention of atrocities.  It  is  indeed  my  pleasure  to address  you  at  the  end  of  three  such  productive  and instructive  days  of  discussion,  learning  and  sharing  of experiences.

As  we  all  know,  this  stakeholders  meeting  has  been jointly  organized  by  the  Government  of  Tanzania  and  the Swiss  Government  for  purposes  of  linking  common  grounds and   strengthening   shared   commitments   related   to   the Prevention  of  genocide  and  the  Responsibility  to  protect citizens from mass atrocities.

Allow  me  to  express  our  sincere  appreciation  to  the Swiss  Federal  Government  for  making  this  forum  possible. We greatly value your contributions towards this process. In  the  same  vein,  I  would  also  like  to  express  my  sincere appreciation    to    my fellow government officials particularly  from  the  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  and International  Cooperation  and  the  National  Committee  on the   Prevention   of   genocide   for   coordinating   all the activities related to this working session.

Distinguished participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Genocide prevention and Responsibility to protect are not new ideas.  While  the  former was  invented  by  the United  Nations  in 2004  to  fill  critical  gaps in  the International  system  that  allowed  genocidal  violence to go  unchecked  in  some  parts  of  the  world,  the  latter  was invented  in  2005  following the  historic    world    summit, whereby   Heads   of   State   and   Government   unanimously affirmed  the  concept  of    individual  state  responsibility towards    protection  of  its populations  from  genocide, war   crimes, ethnic cleansing and   crimes   against humanity.

Excellencies, Distinguished Participants,

I  am  reliably informed that,  for  the past three  days, there  has  been  a  lively  discussion  on  linking  these  two concepts  together  and  that  the  presentations  have  been very  informative.  Indeed,  achieving  this  common  goal  has been  one  of  the  priorities  of  the  UN  Office  on  Genocide Prevention  and  the  Responsibility  to  protect  since  their merger  in 2011.  As noted during the discussions, there are  various  initiatives  on  genocide  prevention  currently undertaken  at  the  national,  regional  and  global  levels;  this   is   a   clear   demonstration   of   how   States and Governments  are  committed  to  lead  in  protecting  their citizens against mass atrocities.

Therefore,  to  honour  the  commitments  shown  by  our respective  Governments,  we  should  go  home  with  a  sense  of responsibility  to  implement  what  has  been  agreed  in  order to  ensure  a  future  that  is  genocide  free.  Our  efforts  for Prevention  should  not  only  focus  on  genocide  but  also  all other  crimes  and  early  warning  signs  that  may  trigger genocide   at   an   early   stage.   These   include, but   not limited to; corruption, nepotism, tribalism, political exclusion, religious tensions etc.

Excellencies, Distinguished Participants,

Turning  now  to  the  question  of  ATROCITY PREVENTION AGENDA,  I  am  delighted  to  note  that  the  agenda  items designed  for  this meeting were particularly  intended  to achieve this fundamental goal. The discussions  were focused  on  the role   of   States in preventing mass atrocities  within  their jurisdictions as well as  building consensus on  general  priorities,  commonalities as  well  as complementarities   for   a   common   agenda   on   atrocity prevention.  Indeed, we are heading towards a Community of Commitment.

Similarly, this process also entails that synergies should   be   built   and   efforts   not duplicated.   In   this regard,  I  am  also  pleased  to  note  that  this  forum  has involved  participants’ from  both  within  and  outside  the Government.   You   will   certainly   agree   with  me   that, forging  these  partnerships  is  not  only  desirable  but  also crucial  in  the  atrocity  prevention  agenda.  We all know that,   the   United   Nations,   through   the   Office   of   the Special  Advisers  on  the  Prevention  of  Genocide  and  the Responsibility   to   Protect       acts   as   a   platform for spearheading  these  efforts,  but  this  does  not  change  the fact  that  collective  action  is  needed  in  order  to  ensure that we live in a world with sustainable peace.

Excellencies, Distinguished Participants,

This  forum  has provided  an  important  opportunity  to brainstorm  on  the  common  positions  and  conclusions  based on  lessons  learnt  from  good  practices  by  States.  It  is  my sincere   hope   that,   the   information gathered through experience  sharing  will  inform  policy  makers  not  only  in Tanzania  but  also  in  your  respective  countries  on  the next   important milestones to be achieved in these endeavors and  what  practical steps and  investments  WE STATES  can  commit  to.  In  this connection, Tanzania aligns itself  with  these goals  and  supports  the  call  of  the International Community and all other relevant stakeholders in  linking common  grounds  and  strengthening shared commitments in order to achieve a greater impact.

I am equally confident that this  meeting  has  made invaluable contribution  to  enhancing the  capacity  for effective  implementation  of  the 1948 Convention on  the Prevention and Punishment of  the  Crime  of  Genocide  and other  related frameworks  not  only  in  Tanzania  but  also  in other  countries  which  have participated  in  this  meeting. It  has,  no  doubt,  contributed  to  improving the  capacity of  national  policy  makers to effectively  engage  on  these two inseparable concepts, i.e.  Prevention of Genocide and the responsibility to protect.

Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Tanzania  has  been  keenly  following  the  developments  which are  taking  place  in  various  parts  of  the  world  in  the fields of  genocide  prevention  and  the  responsibility to protect. The various   forums   established are a good source   of   opportunities for better cooperation   and synergies’, between genocide prevention and responsibility   efforts   and gaps that need to be addressed,  between  the  global discourse on  prevention and  the  reality  in  the  field.  We  should continue to borrow ideas from these already  established networks  when we  are  designing  elements  to  transform  prevention  and protection policies into practice.

As  you  well  know  by  now,  we  launched  the  Tanzania National  Genocide  Prevention  Committee  since  last  year  in February. The   Committee   works   together   with the respective   UN   Office   and   the Secretariat of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region.  I  do hope  and  believe  that,  from  your  deliberations,  you  have certainly  taken  with  you  the  best  of  the  shared  practices and  in  a  special  way,  the  Tanzania  National  Committee’s experience,  as  part  of  the  International  Conference  on the  Great  Lakes  Initiatives,  towards  building  sustainable peace in the region.

Through this  platform, we  would  like  to reiterate our commitment  to  the  prevention  of  genocide  in  all  its  forms and  manifestations.   We are mindful of the fact   that national  architectures  need to  emerge  beyond  rhetoric, constructive  national  agendas  need  to  be  developed  and implemented,  while  at  the  same  time  good  practices  need to be shared and disseminated.

We   welcome   this   initiative   of   linking   these   two concepts  together,  because  we  believe  that  measures  to prevent  and  protect  must  also  become  realities  at  the national  level.  We are willing to offer our support in this discourse as and when necessary.

Excellencies, Dear Participants.

Let  me  also  take  this  opportunity  to  recognize  the presence  of  the  participants  from  the  Civil Society.  I commend them for expanding the concept of Prevention of genocide   and   the   Responsibility to protect. They contribute   significantly   to   widening   space   for   the enjoyment  of human  rights,  observance  of  good  governance and  rule  of  law  which  are  the  main  prerequisite for fighting the  root  causes  of  mass  atrocities and  the  logic behind such violence.

They   spear   head   campaigns   for   greater   dignity everywhere   by   blowing   whistles   and   raise   red   flags whenever they see violations being perpetrated.  This  in turn  has  helped  States  to identify  risk  factors,  creating early  warning  systems  and  disseminating  risk  assessments. I  urge them  to  maintain  this momentum  in  order  to  relate, foster   and   nurture   a   culture   of   observance of human rights  and  establish  a  community of  commitment  to  prevent atrocities in collaboration with Governments.

I  would  also  like to kindly pay  my tribute to all the facilitators  and  consultants  for  this  meeting  for  their presentations   and   active   participation   throughout the three  days.  Their guidance, time, talent and knowledge were vital, and their support and dedication unquestionable.  I  must  say  that  I  am  proud  and  honored  to be   amongst   committed   people   for   human   dignity and I appreciate  the  honor  to  remark  during  this  closing  event. I  admire  such  commitment  and  on  behalf  of  the  Government of  Tanzania,  I  wish  to  thank  you  very  much  for  the dedication and hard work.

Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am   informed that   this   meeting   has involved participants from   Argentina,   Australia, Costa Rica, Ghana, Switzerland, and Tanzania. I  understand  that  many of  you  have  traveled  long  distances  to  be  part  of  this forum  and  I  appreciate  your willingness  to  take  time  out of  your busy  schedules  to  share your expertise  with  your colleagues. I  am  confident  that  this  broad-spectrum of stakeholders  has  made  the  deliberations more  enriching and  successful. I thank you for your participation and valuable contributions.  I do hope that you will apply  the recommendations emanating from  this  meeting  in  real  life situations, when  designing  and  harmonizing prevention and protection strategies for mitigating the risks   of genocidal violence.

Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The  success  of  this  working  meeting  is  based  on  how we  are  able  to  translate  the  agreed  recommendations  into concrete action. I  am  mindful  of  the  fact  that  this requires  sustained  efforts  and  political  will. Similarly, I  cannot  over  emphasize  the  important  role  played  by  the Development Partners  in these  endeavors. On this note we will continue   to value both technical and financial support from them and the UN system as and when necessary. We look forward to further building partnerships with you and your organizations. I hope that you will continue what we have started here today.

Dear Colleagues,

We will end where we began,  challenging  each  of  you to  leave  here  with  several  commitments, first, to  make the  concept  of  genocide  prevention  a  priority matter and secondly to  work  towards a community of commitment in preventing atrocities. The country, regional and global networks should serve  us  well  and  help  us  to  reach  our goals for  protecting  human  kind. Without  clear goals and common objectives, we  will  not  be  able to  identify  common elements of  strategies  to prevent and  protect  at  national and regional levels.

We  should  continue  to  work  together as  one  team with the already established   networks   and   forums   on   the prevention  of  Genocide and the National  Responsibility  to Protect Focal Points Initiatives   which   are currently contributing to raising awareness among different countries and regions in the ongoing prevention agenda.

And, to  some  of  you  who will  be  travelling, I wish  you all  safe journeys   as  you head back to your home countries. I trust that you have enjoyed the warmth and traditional hospitality of the Tanzanian people. 

KARIBUNI TENA

You  may  also  wish  to  note  that,  the  end  of this meeting is the   beginning   of   exploring the beauty of Tanzania and  I  would  therefore  encourage  you  to visit  the city of Dar es salaam and other tourist centers including; Bagamoyo, Ngorongoro,   Serengeti Selous and Mikumi  National  Parks,  Mount  Kilimanjaro and  Zanzibar.  By the way, Zanzibar is just 15 minutes by air.

On   this   note,   I   declare   the High level Working Meeting on Prevention of Atrocities officially closed.

Thank you for your kind attention.