During the GariwoNetwork 2024, an annual event that brings together entities involved in spreading the message of the Righteous, an important memorandum of understanding was signed between the Office of the United Nations Special Advisor for the Prevention of Genocide and the Gariwo Foundation. This new alliance aims to promote the prevention of genocides through educational initiatives and the creation of Gardens of the Righteous around the world.
The agreement represents a significant step towards global awareness on atrocities such as genocides, war crimes and crimes against humanity, thanks to symbolic tools with a strong educational impact such as the Gardens of the Righteous. These spaces commemorate people who fought against oppression, reminding us of the importance of individual responsibility and moral resistance.
Gabriele Nissim, president of the Gariwo Foundation, underlined the importance of this new collaboration with the United Nations: “I thank the United Nations OSAPG, and in particular the Special Advisor Alice Wairimu Nderitu, for this important result. Raphael Lemkin, who coined the term ‘genocide’, had this principle in mind: when a part of humanity is destroyed, all humanity loses a part of itself. The Gardens of the Righteous are an alarm against injustice and a hope of raising awareness.”
To these words were added those of Alice Nderitu, Under-Secretary General and Special Advisor of the United Nations for the prevention of genocide, who declared: “The Gardens of the Righteous are a tangible reminder of the consequences of hatred and the role that each of us can take on to build a more empathetic and just world.”
The memorandum provides for the implementation of joint activities, including educational programs, awareness campaigns and the promotion of the Gardens of the Righteous as symbols of moral courage. The collaboration reflects a shared vision for a future in which the memory of genocides and atrocious crimes becomes a warning for generations to come.
