Rwanda and Human Rights
Rwanda’s formal human rights commitment is high, and the country has ratified nearly all of the international conventions as well as the regional instruments. The new constitution adopted in 2004 gives special place to the Convention against all Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, as well as the Covenants on Economic Social and Cultural Rights and Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The constitution also contains guarantees concerning most of the accepted human rights, though these are often formulated more restrictively than in the universal treaties that Rwanda has ratified. The constitution also contains provisions regarding free and independent courts, a national human rights commission and an ombudsman institution.
In contrast to neighbouring Burundi, where recognition of the “ethnic” differences is explicitly recognised, the constitution of Rwanda is strongly characterised by thinking and mechanisms designed to reinforce national unity and banish all forms of “divisionism”. A very wide interpretation of what constitutes “divisionism” led to a crisis in 2004 when a parliamentary report denounced several organisations and named individuals as propagating “divisionist” and “genocidal” ideas. Human rights activists fled the country and the then leading human rights organisation, LIPRODHOR, was effectively muted. The Rwanda government was criticised internationally – especially by the European Union.
The government's commitment to women’s rights, exemplified by progressive legislation in the area of women’s property and succession rights, is high though a great deal remains to be done in translating these commitments into fulfilled rights. A good example of this commitment to promote women's rights is the fact that the proportion of female members of parliament is among the highest in the world.
In general, however, Rwanda’s human rights record is considered poor. Most international observers agree that political space – including the media – is tightly controlled. The US Department of State’s 2006 annual report for Rwanda reads:
“Significant human rights abuses occurred, although there were important improvements in some areas. Limits on political party activities continued to restrict citizens' rights to peacefully change their government. There were reports that security forces committed extrajudicial killings and tortured and abused suspects with impunity. Prison and detention center conditions remained harsh despite positive measures taken by the government. Security forces arbitrarily arrested and detained persons, including street children and other "vagrants," and members of Jehovah's Witnesses. Prolonged pretrial detention, limits on judicial independence, unfair public trials, and the holding of former political figures--including former President Pasteur Bizimingu--remained problems. There continued to be limits on freedom of speech, press, and association. Government corruption and restrictions on civil society remained problematic. In addition, societal violence and discrimination against women, trafficking in persons, child labor, and restrictions on labor rights continued to be problems.”
However, the past year also witnessed significant improvements according the US Department of State:
“The government took significant steps during the year to address human rights deficiencies and institute reforms. For example, the government formed a unit in the National Police to investigate citizens' reports of official abuse and corruption, and police authorities fired more than 70 police officers on various counts of indiscipline. The judiciary demonstrated increased independence in its growing willingness to rule against the executive branch, its release of some political prisoners, and in its use of the Judicial Council to conduct investigations into judicial corruption.”