Human rights in Rwanda
Human rights in Rwanda have been violated on a grand scale. The greatest violation is the Rwandan genocide of Tutsi in 1994. The post-genocide government is also responsible for grave violations of human rights.
Before the genocide
As decolonization ideas spread across Africa, a
After the withdrawal of Belgium from Africa in 1962, Rwanda separated from
1994 Genocide against the Tutsi
During the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, about 800,000 Tutsi people were slaughtered.[1]
Post genocide human rights issues
Subsequent governments, including the current government led by President Paul Kagame, have committed grave violations of human rights.[2]
On 22 April 1995 the
In September 1996 Rwanda invaded
In 2010, the
In December 1996 the Rwandan government launched a forced villagization program which sought to concentrate the entire rural population in villages known as Imidugudu,[8] which resulted in human rights violations of tens of thousands of Rwandans, according to Human Rights Watch.[9]
According to a report by
When Kagame visited Washington in early 2001, Human Rights Watch criticized Rwanda for its involvement in the Second Congo War in which "as many as 1.7 million" civilians had died.[11]
Regarding human rights under the government of President Paul Kagame, Human Rights Watch in 2007 accused Rwandan police of several instances of extrajudicial killings and deaths in custody.
According to The Economist in 2008, Kagame "allows less political space and press freedom at home than Robert Mugabe does in Zimbabwe", and "[a]nyone who poses the slightest political threat to the regime is dealt with ruthlessly".[15]
Kagame has been accused of using memories of the genocide to muzzle his opposition. In 2009, Human Rights Watch claimed that under the pretense of maintaining ethnic harmony, Kagame's government displays "a marked intolerance of the most basic forms of dissent." It also claimed that laws enacted in 2009 that ban "genocide ideology" are frequently used to legally gag the opposition.[16] In 2010, along similar lines, The Economist claimed that Kagame frequently accuses his opponents of "divisionism," or fomenting racial hatred.[17] In 2011, Freedom House noted that the government justifies restrictions on civil liberties as a necessary measure to prevent ethnic violence. These restrictions are so severe that even mundane discussions of ethnicity can result in being arrested for divisionism.[18]
The United States government in 2006 described the human rights record of the Kagame government as "mediocre", citing the "disappearances" of political dissidents, as well as arbitrary arrests and acts of violence, torture, and murders committed by police. U. S. authorities listed human rights problems including the existence of political prisoners and limited freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion.[19]
Reporters Without Borders listed Rwanda in 147th place out of 169 for freedom of the press in 2007,[20] and reported that "Rwandan journalists suffer permanent hostility from their government and surveillance by the security services". It cited cases of journalists being threatened, harassed, and arrested for criticising the government. According to Reporters Without Borders, "President Paul Kagame and his government have never accepted that the press should be guaranteed genuine freedom".[21]
In 2010, Rwanda fell to 169th place, out of 178, entering the ranks of the ten lowest-ranked countries in the world for press freedom. Reporters Without Borders stated that "Rwanda,
In December 2008, a draft report commissioned by the
In July 2009, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative issued a report critical of the human rights situation in Rwanda.[25] It highlighted "a lack of political freedom and harassment of journalists".[26] It urged the Rwandan government to enact legislation enabling freedom of information and to "authorise the presence of an opposition in the next election".[27] It also emphasised abuses carried out by Rwandan troops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and described Rwanda's overall human rights situation as "very poor":[28]
The report details a country in which democracy, freedom of speech, the press and human rights are undermined or violently abused, in which courts fail to meet international standards, and a country which has invaded its neighbour, the Democratic Republic of Congo, four times since 1994. ... Censorship is prevalent, according to the report, and the government has a record of shutting down independent media and harassing journalists. It concludes that Rwanda's constitution is used as a "façade" to hide "the repressive nature of the regime" and backs claims that Rwanda is essentially "an army with a state".[29]
2010s and later
In the lead-up to the
In 2011, Amnesty International criticized the continued detention of former transportation minister and Bizimungu ally Charles Ntakirutinka, who was seven years into a ten-year sentence at Kigali central prison.[32] Amnesty International called him a prisoner of conscience and named him a 2011 "priority case".[32]
In October 2012, the body of Théogène Turatsinze, a Rwandan businessman living in Mozambique, who was thought to have "had access to politically sensitive financial information related to certain Rwandan government insiders", was found tied up and floating in the sea. Police in Mozambique "initially indicated Rwandan government involvement in the killing before contacting the government and changing its characterization to a common crime. Rwandan government officials publicly condemned the killing and denied involvement."[33] Foreign media connected the murder to those of several prominent critics of the Rwandan government over the previous two years.[34][35]
To improve the perception of its human rights record, the Rwandan government in 2009 engaged a U. S. public relations firm,
In 2020, regime critic Paul Rusesabagina who had fled the country and become a Belgian citizen, was tricked into boarding a private flight to Rwanda, arrested, and the next year sentenced to 25 years in prison on charges that human rights advocates called politically motivated.
Critics of the Rwandan government dead or missing
- 1995: Journalist Manasse Mugabo disappears in Kigali; not seen again.[37]
- 1996: RPF colonel and former MP Théoneste Lizinde and businessman Augustin Bugirimfura shot dead in Nairobi.[38]
- 1998: Journalist Emmanuel Munyemanzi disappears from Kigali; body spotted in city but not returned to family.[37]
- 1998: First post-genocide Interior Minister Seth Sendashonga shot dead in Nairobi. A previous attempt at his life had been made in 1996.[38][39]
- 2000: First post-genocide President Pasteur Bizimungu's adviser, Asiel Kabera, shot dead in Kigali.[37]
- 2003: EX-RPF officer and top judge Augustin Cyiza and magistrate Eliezar Runyaruka disappear from Kigali; not seen again.[37]
- 2003: Opposition MP Leonard Hitimana disappears from Kigali; not seen again.[37]
- 2010: Ex-RPF officer Faustin Kayumbas Nyamwasa shot and wounded in Johannesburg.[37]
- 2010: Journalist Jean-Leonard Rugambage gunned down in Kigali.[37]
- 2010: Reporter Dominique Makeli survives abduction in Kampala.[37]
- 2010: André Kagwa Rwisereka, deputy leader of the Democratic Green Party, found beheaded.[30]
- 2011: Charles Ingabire, a journalist and "outspoken critic of the Rwandan government", gunned down in Kampala.[40]
- 2014: Patrick Karegeya, former head of the foreign Intelligence services and supporter of the opposition, found strangled in a hotel in Johannesburg.[41]
- 2020: Kizito Mihigo, songwriter who fell into disfavour of the regime after a song released in 2014, died in a police cell days after being arrested.[42]
Historical situation
The following chart shows Rwanda's ratings since 1972 in the Freedom in the World reports, published annually by Freedom House. A rating of 1 is "free"; 7, "not free".[43]1
Historical ratings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
International treaties
Rwanda's stances on international human rights treaties are as follows:
International treaties | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
International criticism
On 26 July 2022, chairman of the
See also
- Rwandan genocide
- Massacres of Hutus during the First Congo War
- Human trafficking in Rwanda
- Internet censorship and surveillance in Rwanda
- LGBT rights in Rwanda
Notes
- 1.^ Note that the "Year" signifies the "Year covered". Therefore the information for the year marked 2008 is from the report published in 2009, and so on.
- 2.^ As of January 1.
- 3.^ The 1982 report covers the year 1981 and the first half of 1982, and the following 1984 report covers the second half of 1982 and the whole of 1983. In the interest of simplicity, these two aberrant "year and a half" reports have been split into three year-long reports through interpolation.
References
- ^ "Mandats d'arrêt contre des proches de Kagame"[permanent dead link], Nouvel Observateur
- ISBN 978-1-107-67879-8.
- ISBN 978-1-107-67879-8.
- ISBN 978-0-19-975420-5.
- ISBN 978-0-19-975420-5.
- ^ "OHCHR | DRC: Mapping human rights violations 1993-2003". www.ohchr.org. United Nations. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
- ^ "UN report says DR Congo killings 'may be genocide'". BBC News. October 1, 2010.
- ISSN 0951-6328.
- ^ "Uprooting The Rural Poor In Rwanda – XVII. Conclusion". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ "Rwanda: The hidden violence: "disappearances" and killings continue". Amnesty International. 22 June 1998. AFR 47/023/1998. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Congo, Rwanda Responsible for Severe Abuses". Human Rights Watch. 1 February 2001. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Rwanda: Police Killings Tarnish Rule of Law", Human Rights Watch, 24 July 2007
- ^ "'There Will Be No Trial': Police Killings of Detainees and the Imposition of Collective Punishments", Human Rights Watch, July 2007
- ^ "ICTR Should Address Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed by the RPA", Human Rights Watch, 2 June 2006
- ^ "A flawed hero", The Economist, 21 August 2008
- ^ Roth, Kenneth (11 April 2009). "The power of horror in Rwanda". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
- ^ "Divisionists beware". The Economist. 2010-03-04.
- ^ "Countries at the Crossroads: Rwanda". Freedom House. 2011.
- ^ "Human Rights Reports: Rwanda" Archived 2009-01-12 at the Wayback Machine, embassy of the United States in Rwanda
- ^ "Eritrea ranked last for first time while G8 members, except Russia, recover lost ground" Archived April 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Reporters Without Borders
- ^ "Rwanda - Annual Report 2007" Archived 2008-05-07 at the Wayback Machine, Reporters Without Borders
- ^ "Classement mondial 2010" Archived 2010-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, Reporters Without Borders
- ^ (in French) "Classement mondial 2010: Zoom sur l'Afrique" Archived 2010-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, Reporters Without Borders
- ^ "UN 'accuses Rwanda and DR Congo'". BBC News. 11 December 2008.
- ^ Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative report on human rights in Rwanda, July 2009
- ^ "Rwanda admitted to Commonwealth". BBC News. November 29, 2009.
- Radio Canada, 29 November 2009
- ^ Rice, Xan (19 July 2009). "Rwanda's Commonwealth hopes dented by human rights criticism". The Guardian. London.
- ^ Howden, Daniel (November 23, 2009). "Human rights concerns raised as Rwanda set to join Commonwealth". The Independent. London.
- ^ a b Beaumont, Peter (18 July 2010). "Deadly attacks on Rwandan opposition spark warning by UN". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "Violence rises in Rwanda as election nears", Associated Press, 28 June 2010
- ^ a b "CHARLES NTAKIRUTINKA, PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE". Amnesty International. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ "2012 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Rwanda", United States Department of State
- ^ "Rwanda timeline: Descent into tyranny", Channel 4 News, 25 November 2012
- ^ "Murder of Rwandan banker: Police admit no progress" Archived 2014-08-09 at the Wayback Machine, The Zimbabwean, 19 October 2012
- ^ "How a U.S. agency cleaned up Rwanda's genocide-stained image". The Globe and Mail. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Profile: Rwanda's President Paul Kagame", BBC, 10 December 2010
- ^ a b "Rwanda: Repression Across Borders". Human Rights Watch. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ISBN 978-0-19-975420-5.
- ^ "RWANDAN EXILE JOURNALIST GUNNED DOWN IN KAMPALA", Reporters Without Borders, 2 December 2011
- ^ « Rwanda: l’ex-chef du renseignement assassiné en Afrique du Sud », Agence France-Presse, 2 January 2014
- ^ "The gospel singer who died in a police cell". BBC News. 29 February 2020.
- ^ Freedom House (2012). "Country ratings and status, FIW 1973-2012" (XLS). Retrieved 2012-08-22.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 1. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Paris, 9 December 1948". Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 2. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. New York, 7 March 1966". Archived from the original on 11 February 2011. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 3. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. New York, 16 December 1966". Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 4. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. New York, 16 December 1966". Archived from the original on 1 September 2010. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 5. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. New York, 16 December 1966". Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 6. Convention on the non-applicability of statutory limitations to war crimes and crimes against humanity. New York, 26 November 1968". Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 7. International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid. New York, 30 November 1973". Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 8. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. New York, 18 December 1979". Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 9. Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. New York, 10 December 1984". Archived from the original on 8 November 2010. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11. Convention on the Rights of the Child. New York, 20 November 1989". Archived from the original on 11 February 2014. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 12. Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. New York, 15 December 1989". Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 13. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. New York, 18 December 1990". Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 8b. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. New York, 6 October 1999". Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11b. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. New York, 25 May 2000". Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11c. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. New York, 25 May 2000". Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 15. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. New York, 13 December 2006". Archived from the original on 19 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 15a. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. New York, 13 December 2006". Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 16. International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. New York, 20 December 2006". Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 3a. Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. New York, 10 December 2008". Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ United Nations. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Chapter IV: Human Rights: 11d. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure . New York, 19 December 2011. New York, 10 December 2008". Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- ^ "US senator questions aid to Rwanda over human rights, role in Congo". CNN. Retrieved 26 July 2022.