Rwanda has been commended by Justice Ministers from Commonwealth countries for its efforts to use technology and innovation to improve access to justice among its population.

The award was delivered to justice minister Emmanuel Ugirashebuja on Wednesday, March 7 during the 2024 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting which took place in Zanzibar from March 4 to 8 under the theme: "Technology and Innovation: How Digitalization paves the way for the development of peoples centered Access to Justice.”

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Two of Rwanda’s initiatives: - Abunzi and the IECMS (Integrated Electronic Case Management System) were pointed out as the reason why the country was given the award which is meant to appreciate countries for ensuring equal justice for all.

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The Abunzi are community mediators’ committees which operate on voluntary basis in cells and sectors around the country, assisting conflicting people to sort out disputes that they were unable to solve by themselves, while the IECMS is an automated information management system, which is designed within the initiative of modernising Rwanda’s Justice, Reconciliation, Law and Order Sector.

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The IECMS is intended to ensure improved access to and transparency of justice information both for the government institutions and the general public.

It also aims at facilitating information sharing at key decision points, as well as to improve efficiency and coordination of the police, prosecution, and court activities.

"When we do this innovation, it is because we want as many people as possible to have access to justice and have appropriate means of resolving disputes. Technology has helped us achieve that and being awarded is just a bonus,” said Ugirashebuja.