CSOs, District Authorities commit to work together to improve citizens’ access to justice

By Elias Hakizimana.

Various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working in justice sector and Human Rights and district’s authorities in Musanze District have pledged to join efforts in helping citizens to access fair justice.

Some key issues that are still on the ground as they have been identified during a roundtable meeting organized by Ihorere Munyarwanda Organization (IMRO) and its coalition include land disputes and family conflicts that delay citizens in courts.

Through the workshop organized by IMRO under the subject: ‘Empowering Civil Society Working In Justice Sector & Human Rights To Contribute To The District Justice Priorities’ in Musanze district on March 16, 2022, various justice sector priorities at the district level within ‘Imihigo’ have been identified.

Charlotte Mukandungutse, The coordinator of IMRO’s ‘Strengthening Rwanda Civil Society Organization’ capacity to influence policy’ project said that the meeting was organized to work hand in hand with the Government and stakeholders to address challenges faced by CSOs in the Justice Sector.

Thirty (30) CSOs working in Justice and Human Rights benefited from the outcomes of the meeting.

Dative Nyirahabonababyeyi, the representative of the National Union of Disability Organizations of Rwanda (NUDOR) said that the meeting with other CSOs is meaningful and it is the beginning to boost partnership in helping citizens to access to justice.

“Working alone as one organization is a challenge, we people with disabilities face violence of different kinds and lack justice, especially women who are deaf-blind as they cannot hear and speak, in this meeting, I have met other CSOs working on justice and we have committed to establish a strong collaboration in supporting these citizens to access justice.” She said.

Nyirahabonababyeyi said that it is a milestone for CSOs to join the commission of justice and Human Rights as they were only working with the Commission of wealth and citizens’ welfare.

Vincent Muhirwa, the coordinator of ‘Maison d’Acces a la justice’ (MAJ) in Musanze District and JRLOS at the district level said that linking information with the CSOs is mostly important to help a citizen get quick and fair justice service.

“When we are working together, citizens get to know all concerned authorities and how they work together to help them, they get to know Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), the prosecution and others.” Muhirwa said.

The roundtable meeting with JRLOS and District council on advocacy role to strengthen the justice sector by IMRO and its coalition on March 17, 2022 also embarked on these issues.

The meeting aimed at boosting CSOs coordination efforts in complying with the district’s performance of contracts in order to deliver fair justice to citizens.

Ishimwe clement, the official in charge of Good governance in Musanze district said that land disputes and family conflicts are the major issues in justice sector in Musanze district.

“Our citizens face land based disputes in Musanze, where people can be in courts for five years, we also have family conflicts issues, leading to school dropouts and delinquency like drug abuse due to parental irresponsibility. This meeting is very important as we, officials at the district level and the CSOs will work together for fruitful results.” Ishimwe said.

Anastase Nabahire, the coordinator of Justice, Reconciliation, Law and Order Sector Strategy (JRLOS) at the Ministry of Justice (MINIJUST) said that they are establishing special initiatives to tackle disputes without passing through court procedures. 

 “We are building ways to tackle disputes without passing through court procedures. We also plan to vote for a standardized reporting format for all the districts on justice and; we wish to have strong and capacitated CSOs that are able to hold us accountable by 2024.

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