The Role of Media and International Relations: A Case Study of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide

The main objective of this study was to determine the role that the media and international relations played in the 1994 Rwanda Genocide. The specific objectives were to examine the role of media and International Relations the effects of ethnic tensions, failure of international community to intervene in the genocide immediately it began, impunity and the failure of humanitarian intervention in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Secondary data was used to investigate the role that the media and International Relations played in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. This study presented recommendations and suggestions for media ethics and the involvement of the international community in order to be successful; there was a need to have humanitarian intervention during genocide. The study found out that the international community actively sought to avoid any responsibility it might have for acting to prevent the killing. Individual states sought refuge for their choice not to act by asserting that the killing was the result of ancient tribal hatreds that could not be resolved. Others relied on the claim that intervention would violate Rwandan sovereignty. The researcher recommended that further research should test the hypothesis that media involvement in human rights campaign should be intensified. This is necessary considering the fact that the media are also rights holders in order to know if the organizations should set a limit to any positive contribution they make in regard to human rights promotion. Therefore, media involvement in charities or nonprofit organizations should be investigated to find out the impact of such involvement on media credibility and expertise