Slow juvenile justice system

Only 28 of the estimated 5,000 detained minors in Rwanda have gone to trial in the past five years, UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Olara Otunnu said in an annual report. Otunnu said the slow pace of the country’s juvenile justice system was a source of concern. However, Otunnu added he was encouraged by efforts to address the problem of the treatment of juveniles accused of participating in the 1994 genocide. Those efforts included the establishment of a special bench for minors and separate prison wings for children.

The situation of Rwandan children, 20 percent of whom are estimated to be severely traumatised, “presents an extraordinary challenge,” Otunnu said in his report, presented to the UN General Assembly this week. “As they grope towards some healing and rebuilding, the people of Rwanda will need much understanding and support from the international community,” the report added. Otunnu said a growing number of the world’s children - now in the millions - remained the victims of war, “as its targets or as its instruments”.