The Senate is today expected to launch a report on the status of social justice in Rwanda.

The report, a copy of which The New Times obtained, reveals that at least 62 percent of Rwandans enjoy social justice.

This senatorial study was conducted in reference to Article 9 of the Constitution, which partly states "…building a State committed to promoting Social welfare and establishing appropriate mechanisms for ensuring social justice.”

The report indicates that the concept of social justice is hard to grasp and the definitions people attempt to give it are often criticised. However, in the same report, researchers defined social justice as the equitable distribution of goods and duties.

As experts compiled the report, special attention was paid to special groups composed of persons with disabilities, widows and orphans, members of historically marginalised communities, demobilised soldiers, homeless and elderly people.

"This research found that out of the surveyed population, 62 percent of the general public and 53 percent of the special groups enjoy social justice,” reads the report.

The report points out that there is still a long way to go in establishing the principle of social justice since 38 percent of the general public and 47 percent of the special groups say they do not enjoy social justice in their daily life.

"These figures could be worrying but this might be explained by the fact that certain policies implemented by the government require more time to yield full results. In any event, there exists a real need to strengthen the legal and institutional framework to ensure social justice,” read the report.

The report recommends that it is of utmost importance that the government adopts a careful planning of programmes that promote social justice and well-being.

It also adds that it is necessary to secure the people’s participation in order to sustainably ensure their ownership of all actions to build a just society that enjoys well-being.

Detailed findings of the study will be presented by Prof Francois Masabo and Dr. Martin Mugenzi.

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