Rights activists have urged torture victims to speak out and name the perpetrators. The activists were speaking during activities to mark the Global Day against torture organised by “Uyisenga ni Imanzi”, a non-governmental organisation affiliated to Ibuka, the umbrella organisation of Genocide survivors’ associations on Thursday. The event was held in Kigali under the theme; “Fighting Impunity”. The organisers sought to find measures to fight torture, its consequences as well as related behaviour. Uyisenga ni Imanzi, was formed in 2002 and operates in 10 districts. It takes care of 3,500 Genocide orphans grouped in 850 associations. Alfred Ndahiro, the board chair of the organisation, said ending torture and impunity and other crimes against humanity required concerted efforts. “We will forever denounce impunity, torture and all related crimes. We will forever denounce perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who are still at large. We call for public solidarity in the campaign against impunity and torture, as we encourage victims to speak up and engage security organs,” Ndahiro said. The campaign against torture is in accordance with Article Five of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article Seven of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which provides that no human being should be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Article Five of Rwandan Constitution (as of June 2003) also states that every person has the right to physical and mental integrity Dr Diogene Bideri of the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG), said torture in Rwanda was orchestrated by past governments way back in 1959 when ethnic differences surfaced. “We also have testimonies of torture victims of 1990 when Pascal Simbikangwa was the head of intelligence in the national army. During this period, there was massive arrests and torture and many Tutsi lost their lives,” Bideri said. During the event, a Genocide survivor’s testimony from one of Ibuka’s report was read out. “Our housekeeper raped me. My husband wanted to intervene but he was hit with a club. They would pour beer on us, mocking that Tutsi women did not want them before, but now they were going to have us (for sex),” part of the report read. “They gang raped us, my daughters wanted to scream out in pain but were too scared. My husband was forced to watch the whole ordeal. He was later hit with a hammer on the head and died the next day. The report further indicated that over I million people were killed during the Genocide, 64,968 were orphaned, 33,103 widowed, and about 500,000 were raped of which 67 per cent contracted HIV/Aids. The above evil acts resulted into over 20,000, unwanted babies (children born of rape), 22,584 were left with permanent disabilities while 49,450 contracted STDs. ACP Rogers Rutikanga, the Regional Police Commander of the Central Region, said they were committed to fighting impunity. “ The acts of torture by previous governments are regrettable. But we say no to impunity and torture. We will ensure sustainable human rights as provided for in the law,” Rutikanga said.
