International Development Law Organization

Rwanda

English

Since the genocide of 1994, where approximately one million people perished, Rwanda has made tremendous progress in many areas of social welfare. The country is one of the most noted examples, both globally and on the African continent, of fast economic growth and successful post-war reconstruction. Significant development successes over the last decade include high economic growth, rapid poverty reduction and, since 2005, reduced inequality. In addition to this, the country strives for strong political stability, as reflected in the adoption of a new Constitution in 2003. Rwanda is also known for having the highest female representation in Parliament compared to any other nation, with 64% of women in the Lower House.

IDLO is supporting the country’s progress by implementing a project aiming to strengthen the capacity of Rwandan defense lawyers in international criminal law, in order to provide them with stronger support for dealing with genocide court cases.

Training Rwandan defense lawyers on international criminal law

22 years after Rwanda’s genocide, suspects remain at large and exiled in different countries around the world. Ensuring that they are brought to justice on national soil is a major priority for the Government of Rwanda. As a result of the progress made in recent years in implementing reforms and modernizing the Rwandan justice sector, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda transferred cases to be tried under Rwandan jurisdiction.

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Key Initiatives

  • Strengthening the capacity of prosecutors, judges and lawyers in Rwanda in international criminal law is both important and timely. Over two decades after Rwanda’s genocide, the number of cases extradited and transferred from other countries to Rwanda continues to increase. Given that international criminal law is a complex and evolving field, prosecutors who appear in Transfer cases would benefit from skills allowing them to more accurately and effectively research and apply the latest judicial precedents.
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