On 02 April 2025, UNOAU participated in the AU Peace, and Security Council Open Session on “Hate Crimes and Fighting Genocidal Ideology in Africa and the 31st Anniversary Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda”. The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Rebecca Amuge Otengo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uganda and Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council for the month of April 2025. The AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, H.E. Bankole Adeoye, provided his introductory statement, which was read on his behalf by Ambassador Salah Mohammed. This was followed by presentations from the Representative of the Republic of Rwanda, Ambassador Major General Charles Karamba; the AU Special Envoy for the Prevention of Genocide and other Mass Atrocities, Adama Dieng,  and Acting Special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide and SRSG CAAC, Virginia Gamba, provided recorded video messages. Notably, this was the first time the AU Special Envoy was appearing before the PSC since his appointment in April 2024.

During the meeting, participants raised the issue of strengthening of early warning mechanisms, and the importance of including women and youth from the earliest stages of conflict prevention and in reconciliation interventions was also emphasized. There was also a focus on the role of media in combating hate speech and misinformation, and the need to improve data collection on hate crimes so as to promote understanding of the crimes.  Those present urged the AU to play a role in ensuring accountability for perpetrators and to strengthen collaboration with the international community in this regard, as well as to strengthen the mandate of judicial and accountability institutions, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights and the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights. Full press statement issued by the AUPSC is available here.