{Transparency International Rwanda (TIR) has launched a €310,000 project (Rwf258,354,000) aimed at promoting justice through providing legal assistance to inmates.}
A survey conducted by TIR in 2013/2015 on the performance of courts and injustice cases filed to Transparency International Rwanda indicated that inmates are among oppressed citizens over ignorance on legal representation or lacking financial means to pay the lawyers.
During the official launch of the project yesterday, the executive director of TIR, Mupiganyi Apollinaire said that the program will comply with government judicial standards.
“This project will complement the existing programs of respecting rights of prisoners and electronically keeping their files to avoid errors that could keep inmates in jail longer even after serving their time,” he said.
He said they will work with Association Rwandaise Pour La Defense Des Droits De L’homme (A.R.D.H.O) to establish a way of defending prisoners that do not have the means of paying lawyers.
“We will evaluate how prisons keep files of inmates and assess whether the investigations are professionally conducted. We will advocate for inmates jailed without files among others,” said Mupiganyi.
He revealed a plan offer legal assistance and appealing programs. Jailed juvenile delinquents (minors) will be among the beneficiaries.
The permanent secretary in the ministry of internal security, Amb.Valens Munyabagisha says that the project will help the country to extend justice and wished the service would be applied for all citizens.
Recently, there were reported cases of inmates whose files were incomplete. Munyabagisha said that all errors were corrected and established an electronic filing system which guarantees accuracy and efficiency.
The project was sponsored by European Union in Musanze, Rubavu, Nyamagabe and Nyagatare prisons.
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