Rwanda Human Rights Commission Marks 25 Years of Advocacy Amidst Challenges

On December 10, 2024, Rwanda Human Rights Commission (NCHR) celebrated its 25th anniversary, coinciding with the 76th anniversary of the International Human Rights Day.

During this milestone event, both progress and challenges in the country’s human rights landscape were discussed.

In the past 25 years, Rwanda has made significant strides in human rights protection. The commission has been at the forefront of advocating for human rights, addressing violations, and ensuring citizens’ rights are respected.

The Chairperson of the Rwanda Human Rights Commission, Umurungi Providence, shared that Rwandans now enjoy greater awareness and access to their rights, with institutions available to protect them if those rights are violated.

Chairperson of the Rwanda Human Rights Commission, Umurungi Providence.

“Rwandans know their rights and have avenues to address violations,” Umurungi said. “This is a result of years of advocacy and hard work by our commission, ensuring that the government and society respect human rights.”

However, despite these positive changes, challenges remain, particularly in the realm of knowledge and awareness among law enforcement and judicial bodies.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, Ozonia Ojielo, highlighted that many African countries, including Rwanda, still face gaps in understanding human rights, especially among those in positions to uphold them, such as police officers and investigators.

He pointed out a crucial example: “If someone is arrested for a minor offense, they should be allowed to be tried without being detained, because the crime is not serious. But the problem is, police officers and investigators may not always know this. As a result, people are often detained for longer than necessary.”

This lack of knowledge can lead to violations, such as unwarranted detention or even mistreatment during interrogations. “Interrogators sometimes resort to torture to extract information, which is not acceptable,” Ozonia added. “Before anyone is interrogated, their lawyer should be present, and they should be treated with respect for their rights.”

The Rwanda Human Rights Commission is also grappling with limited resources, which affects its ability to monitor facilities consistently. Although the commission conducts inspections twice a year, Umurungi emphasized the need for more frequent visits. "We still face financial challenges.

Ideally, we should be conducting inspections every quarter, not just twice a year," she said.
In the five years since the commission was tasked with monitoring detention facilities, there has been progress. New prisons have been built to meet international standards, ensuring that detainees’ rights are protected.

These new facilities are a far cry from the older ones, where the rights of prisoners were often neglected.

Despite progress, international reports continue to question Rwanda’s human rights record. In response, the Rwanda Human Rights Commission actively engages with local communities to verify the accuracy of these reports.

“We don’t just rely on international reports. We go directly to the people to see if what’s being said is true,” Umurungi explained. “If we find violations, we advocate for the government to rectify the situation and make recommendations on how to improve.”

In addition to local efforts, the Commission is pushing for Rwanda to sign several international human rights treaties that would better protect vulnerable groups, such as domestic workers.

Evariste Murwanashyaka, the coordinator of the Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Rwanda (CLADHO), called attention to the lack of legal protection for this group.

“Rwanda has not yet signed international agreements that protect domestic workers, even though they are often subject to abuse,” Murwanashyaka said. “It’s crucial that the government signs these treaties and creates laws to protect these workers.”

As the International Human Rights Day celebrations wrapped up, attendees reflected on the ongoing challenges, such as forced evictions, delays in legal proceedings, and the need for justice for children who are victims of sexual abuse.

“The work is far from over,” Umurungi concluded. “We must continue to advocate, educate, and push for the respect of human rights for all Rwandans. We are committed to making sure that everyone’s rights are upheld, no matter their background or situation.”