The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights-Rwanda commends efforts of Govt, CSOs in fighting inequalities

By Elias Hakizimana.

On behalf of the United Nations’ family in Rwanda, Komi Gnondoli a Senior Human Rights Advisory at UN Commission for Human Rights- Rwanda has commended efforts of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in supporting the government to fight against inequalities and injustice.

Komi was addressing participants to the International Human Rights Day and the 73rd celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) that took place in Kigali on December 8, 2021 under the organization of the Great Lakes Initiative and Human Rights Development (GLIHD).

Rwanda has ratified several human rights conventions and adopted policies to reinforce the principles of equality.

Komi has reminded CSOs to further their interventions in supporting the government to implement policies and programs on human rights and gender.

“The role of your organizations in monitoring human rights institutions is well known, you have never resigned in front of your responsibilities to support the government of Rwanda to support the government of Rwanda in the implementations of its policies and programs of human rights and gender.” He said.

He embarked on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that leads the foundation of equality among all human beings, without any discrimination based on religion race and language.

“All human beings are born free, equal in Rights and dignity.” Stated the article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Komi said that these principles of equality will remain empty words if the country does not find solution to reduce inequalities and ensure the protection of the rights of all citizens.

He encouraged CSOs to continue helping the country advance Human rights and justice despite the issue of the challenges facing citizens due to the consequences of covid-19 on the human rights institutions in particular the freedom of movements, the reduction of opportunity to employment, difficulties to access to healthcare and social needs.

“The role of the National Human Rights Institutions and Non-Governmental Organizations and Civil Society organizations are very important in the promotion and protection of human rights. All the time they must work to prevent Human Rights violations by conducting monitoring activities for cases of violations of Human Rights and suggest remedies.” Komi noted.

Tom Mulisa, Founder and Executive Director of the Great Lakes Initiative for Human Rights and Development (GLIHD) said that the celebration of the International Human Rights Day should mainly focus on service delivery.

 “We want to say that while we are celebrating the day, the celebration should be taken together with service provision, we are not celebrating the day with speeches only, but the speeches should be translated to service delivery, and that is why legal organizations that are working on the service delivery, family planning, Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), will be providing services to the population, and other CSOs organizations will be providing legal services especially to the victims of gender violence, in line with the sixteen days of activism that we are also celebrating.” He said.

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