“Let’s see our work in the Centre of citizen’s interests” ̶ CSOs, JRLOS

By Elias HAKIZIMANA.

Complementarity between Rwanda’s Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that have taken justice and human rights into their daily concerns and Rwanda Justice sector led by the Justice, Reconciliation, Laws & Order Sector Strategies (JRLOs) has been an issue of debate.

One of these authorities have been accusing another of mistrust and misconception, mainly the CSOs that were said to work for their own and donors’ interests instead of complementing with the Government to achieve their mandates of helping a citizen to get fair justice and enjoy Human Rights.

During a two-day roundtable meeting with JRLOS and Nyarugenge District’s Council on advocacy role to strengthen the justice sector, some achievements by these authorities have been presented but, on the other hand, they reported challenges, which will be tackled through joint efforts.

Participants during the roundtable meeting with JRLOS and Nyarugenge District’s Council on advocacy role to strengthen the justice sector

The “Strengthening Rwanda Civil Society Organization ‘capacity to influence policy.” Project that was initiated by Ihorere Munyarwanda Organization (IMRO) in the coalition with other CSOs including Health Development Initiative (HDI), Great Lakes Initiative for Human Rights and Development (GLIHD) and Rwanda NGOs Forum for HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion, the project that is being implemented in 12 Districts of Rwanda is expected to close in June 2022.

Charlotte Mukandungutse, the project coordinator said that the meeting with Rwanda Justice sector players has significantly improve the way they were thinking and acting towards delivering fair access to justice to the citizens.

However, she said that some challenges are still on site.

The members of civil society organizations expressed their commitment to improve on their advocacy activities, noting that the project has contributed a lot to the mindset change.

“There is still poor cross-collaboration but we have realised some positive changes where government actors no longer consider us as the tools of our donors whose aim is to negatively criticize and report negative issues of our country, thanks to this project as they now understand that we exist to help the government achieve its goals and objectives as established in ‘Imihigo’ national programme.” Mukandungute said.

“We all work for the interests of the citizen, this is one of the major achievements we are proud of and wish to increase for the betterment of the citizens’ rights and justice”. She added.

Ange Kabera Nyiraneza, Civil Registrar Officer of Rwezamenyo Sector, Nyarugenge District said that JRLOs and CSOs have achieved a lot in terms of enhancing citizens’ access to justice but they still need to educate Rwandans on legal procedures in order to achieve social economic development.

“Our citizens still need to learn about judicial process as most of the time they are dissatisfied by the services from local authorities when they try to help them with legal services. Most of them would step to high level officials to seek for same service, which delays their development as well.” Nyiraneza said.

Jean de Dieu Nkurunziza, Civil Registrar of Nyamirambo Sector said that the meeting with CSOs was a good platform for both authorities to embark on their duties and to do everything better in the interests of the citizen.

“I think there is a good stage of my understanding about CSOs’ work. One challenge we still face to satisfy a citizen’s wish in services we give them is over-tasks where we must serve as many as many citizens in a short period; which pushes them take their complaints to the high level officials” Nkurunziza said.

According to Cresence Mukantabana, Executive Director of Réseau de Development des Femmes Pauvres au Rwanda and Vice-president of Nyarugenge District Joint Action Forum (DJAF), the project has reduced the mistrust between Rwanda’s justice sector and CSOs as they now collaborate to improve citizen’s access to justice and Human Rights.