KIGALI, July 27 (Xinhua) -- UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide Alice Wairimu Nderitu on Friday called for collective responsibility to create world peace.

She made the remarks at a conference convened in the Rwandan capital of Kigali to discuss the art and science of peace, resilience, and transformational justice.

"The responsibility of building a more peaceful world is a duty for all of us," she said, noting the need to create conversations, safe spaces, and mechanisms that "we can all learn from as we work together to create long-lasting peace."

Nderitu mentioned the need to prosecute perpetrators of crimes and implement changes in society as part of efforts to achieve lasting peace and avoid genocide-related crimes, war crimes as well as crimes against humanity.

The forum was co-organized by Aegis Trust, an international organization working to prevent genocide, the Rwandan Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement, the University of Rwanda, and Tufts University.

It drew participants from international organizations, academicians, activists, and people involved in building peace in their own communities.

Nderitu hailed Rwanda's efforts in fostering reconciliation after a devastating genocide against the Tutsi group in 1994. "Today, we are in this country that has witnessed the horror of the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. We are still puzzled by the path that Rwanda has gone through after it was left to fend for itself, and their achievement of reconciliation and resilience."

Rwandan Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement Jean-Damascene Bizimana, said after putting an end to the genocide against the Tutsi, Rwandans refused to seek revenge by choosing justice and working toward reconciliation.

"We chose this path not only for ourselves, but for our future and the prosperity of our country," he said. Enditem

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