RWANDA has registered tremendous achievements in the promotion and protection of human rights over the past years, a top human rights activist has said.

Madeleine Nirere, the president of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), was speaking on Tuesday, during celebration to mark this year’s International Human Rights Day.

The day, which was marked in Maraba Sector, Huye District, is internationally celebrated on December 10 every year.

It commemorates the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Human rights refer to the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled.  

These include the right to life and liberty, freedom of thought and expression, equality before the law, the right to food, the right to work, the right to education, among others.

Nirere said the state of human rights in the country has significantly improved over the years. She noted that based on several rights indicators, it is evident that the country has made huge strides in human rights promotion and protection.

Nirere observed that there are efforts to ensure that people’s rights are respected and that programmes have been initiated to educate the public about their rights.

"A lot has been achieved as far as human rights are concerned. Programmes such as the Girinka (One Cow Per Poor Family), the community health insurance, education for all, Imidugudu (village settlements) and others are transforming people’s lives and advancing their right to better life as citizens,” Nirere said.

She said residents are also becoming conscious of their rights and are better poised to defend them.

Nirere noted that human rights sensitisation campaigns have been conducted in the past and will continue to be held, something she said has played a major role in advancing the state of human rights in the country.

She urged leaders to ensure that the rule of law prevails, adding that this will advance respect of human rights. Nirere also called upon residents to champion their rights but also respect those of others.