NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON HUMAN RIGHTS 75 INITIATIVE: HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES AND PLEDGES

Under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Justice/Attorney General Dr.  Emmanuel Ugirasebuja and with the support of the UN Resident Coordinator name, the Government of Rwanda held its national dialogue on human rights on 13th November 2023. This dialogue brought together sixty (60) high-level representatives from the Government, the judiciary, the Parliament, the National Commission for Human Rights, civil society organizations, law enforcement and security organs, the United Nations, the diplomatic corps, development partners, trade unions, academia, and the media.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights played a crucial role in the organisation of this event, notably by co-chairing the organisation committee made up of the Ministry of Justice and the National Commission for Human Rights, and equally provided the necessary guidance for the elaboration of the priorities and pledges made by stakeholders.

The Resident Coordinator a.i name in her speech commended the High Commissioner for Human Rights for launching the Human Rights 75 Initiative calling for the organization of national dialogues on human rights by all States. She mentioned that this call joins several voices notably that of the UN Secretary-General who in his call to action for human rights invites all actors to take urgent action by placing human rights at centre to our most pressing issues as a common humanity. She also applauded the efforts of the Government which have facilitated great progress in promoting gender equality, inclusion, and sustainable development through the adoption of numerous home-grown solutions, showcasing the strong commitment of authorities at the highest level who have spared no efforts towards achieving success. 

The Minister of Justice/Attorney General on his part emphasised the importance of this Dialogue which is “informed by our nation's history which is marked by adversity, but through the lens of our past, we have learned the hard way that respect for human rights is not a choice but a moral imperative. It is the cornerstone upon which we build a just and equitable society.” He reiterated that Rwanda’s commitments extend beyond borders. We actively engage in international dialogues, contributing to the global discourse on human rights, learning from others, and sharing our experiences.

To National Dialogue was organised in the form of the general presentation of the Human Rights 75 Initiative, participants listened to five panelists who presented their views of the human rights situation in Rwanda, the challenges, and the future perspectives as well as suggestions of priorities. Discussions were pursued in four reflection groups namely civil and political rights, socio-economic and cultural rights, cross-cutting issues, and protection of specific groups to permit the elaboration and identification of priorities and pledges.

Following intense deliberations five pledges were finally recommended as below:

• Rwanda will continue to reform its justice system to emphasize restorative and reformative justice over retributive justice.
• Rwanda will adopt and implement the National Human Rights Action Plan and the Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.
• Phase two of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST 2) will be human rights-sensitive.
• Contribute to the global efforts to find a solution to the current global migration and asylum system challenges.
• Continue reforming the media sector.

On 15 November 2023, the Government through the Ministry of Justice submitted its five pledges to the Office of the United Nations High for Human Rights. The Regional Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, praised the quality of the five pledges and shared them with all the field presences of Central Africa as a best practice that serves as a source of inspiration. All states have been invited to present their pledges during a high-level event scheduled to take place in Geneva on 11 – 12 December 2023.