Özer Aslan

This study examines the 1994 Rwandan genocide through the interconnected dimensions of ethnic identity, colonial legacy, state violence, and human rights. It investigates how ethnic categories institutionalized during the colonial period were transformed into instruments of political annihilation by the modern state and evaluates this process within the framework of international human rights law. The analysis demonstrates that colonial administrations racialized Hutu and Tutsi identities, creating conditions for long-term political conflict. The genocide is interpreted not as a sudden social breakdown but as the outcome of sustained ideological construction, state-sponsored discrimination, and militarization. The study further assesses the legal characterization of the atrocities under the United Nations definition of genocide and examines violations of fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, health, and security. Finally, it discusses the challenges of peacebuilding and reconciliation in post-genocide Rwanda. The findings highlight the importance of integrating security policies with a human rights-based approach to prevent the recurrence of mass violence.