[{"bbox": [97, 153, 1135, 257], "category": "Text", "text": "Aid providers who are active at local levels (e.g. probono Legal Aid practitioners). The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) plays an important role in compiling and reporting on Rwandan international commitments³. The NCHR investigates complaints relating to Human Rights violations in accordance with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations."}, {"bbox": [97, 285, 1135, 602], "category": "Text", "text": "Another important theme is sustainable reconciliation and unity in Rwanda. The social and economic rehabilitation of former genocide convicts after completion of their sentence is key for sustainable peace. Actions conducted by civil society throughout the country are contributing towards peaceful reconciliation between former genocidaires and communities. These actions need continued support, as well as improved coordination between CSOs and Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS). The establishment of TVET centres in 5 out of 13 prisons in 2019 through the support of the Dutch cooperation, contributed to peace consolidation and social and economic reintegration of prisoners. TVET centres in prisons should be further supported to reach out a bigger number of inmates and equip prisoners with hands-on market-oriented skills, thus reducing recidivism. It is also necessary to capacitate RCS' staff on the treatment of prisoners in accordance with international human rights standards. An important aspect of sustainable reconciliation and peace building is the interconnection between trauma healing, reconciliation process and rehabilitation processes. In this regard, cooperation between RCS and civil society organisations (CSOs) should be further reinforced."}, {"bbox": [97, 628, 1135, 730], "category": "Text", "text": "Regarding voice and accountability, Rwanda has an institutional framework that, prima facie, could provide for a vibrant state–citizen engagement. However, several factors, such as provisions relating to the preservation of public order, lack of confidence, self-censorship, and low capacity, limit CSOs ability to deliver on many areas of relevance."}, {"bbox": [130, 749, 371, 779], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2. Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [97, 796, 1125, 850], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### Performance of the justice system to deliver timely judgement and access to quality of justice for the most vulnerable people"}, {"bbox": [97, 868, 1135, 1002], "category": "Text", "text": "The Justice system is still facing an important backlog of cases. The Judiciary stated in June 2021 that the average time for a case to be heard was 10 months and case backlogs rose to 54% over the last year. This situation is the result of many reasons including budget limitations, limited number of judges, limited capacity, perfectible collaboration among JRLOS actors, lack of ICT equipment and skills, but also to a higher number of cases that citizens genuinely take to court as people's trust in the justice system has improved.⁴"}, {"bbox": [97, 1027, 1135, 1373], "category": "Text", "text": "The number of crime cases submitted to National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) has been increasing over the years, including on emerging sophisticated crimes (Economic and Financial crimes, Cybercrime, Human Trafficking). This situation requires to reinforce the professionalism and specialization of the prosecution capacity. There is also a lack of criminal policy, joint curricula as well as uncoordinated practices that have an impact on the overall judicial process. A number of challenges appear also from the Police and Investigators' capacity (RNP and RIB): the collection and conservation of evidence, incomplete files from investigators and police, violations of suspect's rights. The situation is critical with regard to the evidence collection, especially on Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and emerging crimes. Thus, specialized courses for investigators are needed, mainstreaming human-rights-based approaches, and there is a need to train criminal justice actors to enhance coordination and harmonized interpretation of crimes and law for effective delivery of justice. Also the criminal justice actors recognise there is a need to invest in crime prevention and detection through community policing. Lastly, there is a high level of backlog of pending cases (both criminal and civil) waiting for hearing. All those issues concur to a delay in justice delivery and impact the overall quality of justice."}, {"bbox": [97, 1399, 1135, 1505], "category": "Text", "text": "In the Universal Periodic Review, some Human Rights violations are reported⁵. In 2018, Rwanda conferred the role of National Preventive Mechanism (under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture) to the NCHR. This body is thus mandated to monitor, investigate and report on the situation of Human Rights. The institution still needs to strengthen its capacity in order to promote and protect Human Rights effectively."}, {"bbox": [86, 1549, 632, 1573], "category": "Footnote", "text": "³ Rwanda has ratified eight out of nine core human rights treaties."}, {"bbox": [86, 1573, 991, 1597], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁴ Under the 8th edition of Rwanda Governance Scorecard (2021), the Trust in the Judiciary stands at 88.30%."}, {"bbox": [86, 1597, 1143, 1646], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁵ Refer UPR review, 2021, in particular under 2. Administration of justice, including impunity, and the rule of law; see also Rwanda National report."}, {"bbox": [1028, 1655, 1143, 1681], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 25"}]