The Minister of Justice, Tharcisse Karugarama, yesterday received in his office 15 students and three professors from the department of International Peace and Conflict Resolution of Arcadia University in Pennsylvania, the United States.
The delegation is in Rwanda on a week-long study tour to gain a deeper understanding of the country’s conflict resolution management.
“They are here to find out how genocide survivors managed to reconcile with the genocide perpetrators, “Minister Justice Tharcisse Karugarama told reporters.
Karugarama told the delegation that the country’s judicial system during the pre-genocidal era was inept where to become a judge or prosecutor never required any academic qualification.
“There was no fairness at all and to become a judge or prosecutor never required you to present your papers ; but through the will of the then President, he could appoint you (as judge or prosecutor) because he had full powers,” he pointed out.
Minister told the US delegation that Rwanda’s justice system is today based on truth, equity, fairness and transparency, adding that the present government laid emphasis on training of judges and prosecutors to try the colossal backlog of genocide perpetrators in the country’s prison facilities.
The minister briefed the delegation on the Gacaca courts system which had tried many perpetrators compared to the contemporary justice system which led to delays. He further attributed notable peace in the country to the unprecedented success of the Gacaca which resolved 1.5 million Genocide-related cases.
Karugarama underlined that Rwandans today believe in forgiveness and tolerance where both perpetrators and survivors live in harmony.
He allegorically underscored that though Rwanda has 1000 problems, it correspondingly has 1000 solutions.
The delegation also nods in the agreement for the introduction of Gacaca courts. I think how we are told, if that’s how it works, it is then efficient,” Connor Moriaty a student part of the delegation noted.
A member of the delegation and a student at the university Connor Moriaty lauded the role of Gacaca courts.
“Basing on the account given to us, the Gacaca court system is efficient,” he said.
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