National human rights group opens provincial offices

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has opened 10 provincial branches in an effort to both promote human rights and to prevent violations among the entire Rwandan community, the Rwanda News Agency (RNA) reported on Monday. The president of the commission, Gasana Ndoba, told RNA that branch offices were opened in provinces isolated from the capital Kigali, where NHRC headquarters are based. “Kigali city and Kigali rural provinces shall rely on the commission’s headquarters. It was found quite imperative to establish liaison offices which will enable us to promote human rights and investigate cases of human rights violation more closely and expeditiously,” Gasana said. According to Gasana, the initiative was prompted by findings in NHRC’s annual report which exposed cases of illegal arrest and detention of suspects by state security agents. The report also criticised the Rwandan judicial system, citing cases of judges knowingly or unknowingly making decisions that infringe on the rights of aggrieved parties, RNA said. However, Gasana expressed satisfaction over how the criticism was received by top judicial and security officials. “We [NHRC commissioners] have held fruitful discussions with the chief justice, the justice minister and senior prosecutors, who promised to take stringent measures against any officers who omit their duties.” Gasana stated that NHRC activities will be further decentralised next year, with the establishment of an additional 15 liaison offices.