Universal Periodic Review not about credit, its about service - Busingye

Rwanda has so far implemented 55 recommendations by the UN Human Rights Commission and is keen on implementing the remaining 12 by the time they submit a report next month, the Justice minister, Johnston Busingye, has said. The recomendations were made to Rwanda in 2011 through the Universal Periodic Review, a mechanism through which human rights records of all UN member states is reviewed. In a meeting with different stakeholders to review the progress on the implementation, in Kigali, yesterday, Busingye said that implementing the recommendations was an obligation for the government in its continued efforts to improve quality of life of the people of Rwanda. Rwanda underwent the first periodic review by the Geneva-based commission in 2011, while the next review is due in November this year. “We have already made that commitment and have to fulfill it. With only one month left before submitting the report, we are doing our best, together with different stakeholders, so we can report on all the remaining recommendations (as well),” said Busingye, also the Attorney General. He said that implementation of some recommendations lagged because of the process involved. He cited the recommendation to change or amend laws, which needs to follow standard procedure. There are even those that need to first consult with the citizens, and a process that requires a team to examine that, he added. The consultative meeting was attended by officials from different institutions, including ministries, commissions and civil society organizations. According to the minister, human rights is about giving meaning to people’s lives, facilitating them to unleash their full potential and, most importantly, giving them tools and power to hold to account those in leadership. He said the process should not be looked at in terms of seeking credit or international accolades. One of the 12 recommendations that have not been implemented is the removal of the provision imposing imprisonment in solitary confinement. Reacting to this, the Commissioner General of National Correctional Service, Paul Rwarakabije, said solitary confinement has never been enforced after all. Officials said there are some recommendations that can be rejected because they bring no value to Rwandans or in case they are simply not applicable in the Rwandan context. The Universal Periodic Review Process is a new mechanism of human rights monitoring in the Human Rights Council. Unlike other thematic treaties which only bind countries that ratify them, the UPR affects all UN member States since it was adopted through a General Assembly resolution. It is also a sort of peer review mechanism (countries reviewing each other) unlike other treaties that are exclusively handled by committees of experts. In 2011 Rwanda’s review was led by Senegal, Japan and Guatemala. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Universal Periodic Review not about credit, its about service - Busingye