Situation of Human Rights in Rwanda

A/RES/54/188View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 116c Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives, published in 2000.

What other versions does this mandate have?

6 versions · 1995–2000

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2000	A/RES/54/188	Situation of human rights in Rwanda	1,381	26%Compare
1999	A/RES/53/156	Situation of human rights in Rwanda	1,156	36%Compare
1998	A/RES/52/146	Situation of human rights in Rwanda	731	25%Compare
1997	A/RES/51/114	Situation of human rights in Rwanda	1,848	25%Compare
1996	A/RES/50/200	Situation of human rights in Rwanda	2,417	18%Compare

What’s in this document?

26 operative paragraphs

Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Rwanda;⁵

⁵See A/54/359.

Reiterates its strong condemnation of the crime of genocide and the crimes against humanity committed in Rwanda in 1994;

Reaffirms that all persons who committed or authorized acts of genocide or other grave violations of human rights and international law are individually responsible and accountable for those violations;

Expresses concern that most of the perpetrators of the genocide and other gross violations of human rights continue to evade justice;

Also expresses concern that, despite the imposition by the Security Council of an arms embargo which has remained in force since the genocide of 1994, the Interahamwe militias and the former members of the Rwandan armed forces continue to receive military, financial and logistical support, and in this regard calls upon the international community to take urgent measures to enable the disarmament of those groups in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Ceasefire Agreement, signed at Lusaka on 10 July 1999;⁶

⁶S/1999/815, annex; see Official Records of the Security Council, Fifty-fourth Year, Supplement for July, August and September 1999.

Reiterates its request that all States cooperate fully, without delay, with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 in ensuring that all those responsible for the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and other grave violations of human rights are brought to justice in accordance with international principles of due process;

Encourages the International Tribunal for Rwanda to adopt further measures to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness;

Notes improvements in the situation of human rights in Rwanda since the fifty-third session of the General Assembly, expresses concern at those violations of human rights that are reported, and urges the Government of Rwanda to continue to investigate and prosecute such violations;

Welcomes the continuation of domestic trials of those suspected of genocide and crimes against humanity and the improvements that have been made in the trial process, and encourages the Government of Rwanda, with the support of the international community, to strengthen the capacity of the independent judicial system in accordance with international human rights standards;

Encourages the International Tribunal for Rwanda and the Government of Rwanda to continue to prosecute crimes of sexual violence committed against women during the genocide of 1994;

Welcomes the deliberations currently being conducted in Rwanda to determine new mechanisms to handle the large caseload of detainees awaiting trial on genocide and related charges in a more expeditious manner, notes in this regard the proposal of the Government of Rwanda to establish a complementary system of participatory justice, urges the Government of Rwanda to ensure that any such system is in conformity with the law and international human rights standards, and encourages the international community to assist in this area;

Reiterates its appeal to the international community to provide financial and technical assistance to the Government of Rwanda within a mutually agreed framework of cooperation to help to strengthen the protection of genocide survivors and witnesses and the administration of justice, including adequate access to legal representation to prosecute those responsible for genocide and other violations of human rights and to promote the rule of law in Rwanda, and notes with appreciation the assistance already provided by some members of the donor community;

Welcomes the continuing efforts of the Government of Rwanda to build a State based on the rule of law and the guarantee of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights⁷ and other relevant international human rights instruments;

⁷Resolution 217 A (III).

Notes that in July 1999 the transitional Government mandate was extended for a further four years, commends the Government of Rwanda for holding elections at the cell and sector levels in a peaceful and successful manner, and supports the Government in the continuation of its democratization process;

Commends the Government of Rwanda for its continued efforts to improve the situation of children, and encourages it to continue with these efforts, guided by a concern for the best interests of children, as specified in the Convention on the Rights of the Child;⁸

⁸Resolution 44/25, annex.

Welcomes the establishment by legislation of the National Human Rights Commission, encourages the Government of Rwanda and the international community to provide their full support to the Commission to enable it to carry out its mandate to monitor human rights in the country effectively and independently, in accordance with internationally recognized norms, notes the convening of a Commission round-table meeting in October 1999, and urges the Government of Rwanda to pursue its recommendations;

Encourages the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Government of Rwanda, other Governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to provide, within a mutually agreed framework of cooperation, support for the reconstruction of a human rights infrastructure, including a strong civil society;

Notes with appreciation the continuing assistance provided to the National Human Rights Commission by the High Commissioner;

Welcomes the commitment of the Government of Rwanda to continue to promote national unity and reconciliation, and also welcomes the establishment by legislation of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission as a basis for the promotion of tolerance and non-discrimination;

Encourages the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission and the National Human Rights Commission to work together closely to ensure the complementarity of their efforts;

Reiterates its concern at the conditions in many communal detention centres and some prisons in Rwanda, calls upon the Government of Rwanda to continue its efforts to ensure that persons in detention are treated in a manner that respects their human rights, emphasizes the need for greater attention and resources to be directed to this problem, and again urges the international community to assist the Government of Rwanda in this area;

Encourages the continuing efforts of the Government of Rwanda to reduce the prison population by releasing minors, elderly prisoners, prisoners suffering from terminal illnesses and suspects with incomplete files who were detained for their alleged involvement in genocide and other abuses of human rights, and reaffirms the urgent need to complete a dossier for every detainee with a view to identifying those who should be formally charged and those who should be released immediately, early or conditionally;

Encourages the Government of Rwanda, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to continue to provide protection and assistance to returnees to Rwanda;

Notes the initiative by the Government of Rwanda to regroup scattered rural populations in the country under a programme of villagization in order to facilitate community development infrastructure, and urges the Government of Rwanda to ensure that the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all are respected in the implementation of this programme;

Calls for close regular consultation between the Special Representative and the Government of Rwanda, the National Human Rights Commission and all relevant national institutions regarding the functioning of the Commission;

Decides to keep the situation of human rights in Rwanda under consideration at its fifty-fifth session, in the light of additional elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights and the Economic and Social Council.

Situation of Human Rights in Rwanda

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