The Minister of Justice and Attorney General Tharcisse Karugarama has addressed the high level segment of the 22nd Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva Switzerland.
The four-day high level segment in which the President of Germany, two Vice-Presidents, a Prime Minister and 80 Ministers addressed the Human Rights Council.
The segment opened on 25 February and will close 28 February 2013.
The 22nd Session of the Human Rights Council will then continue until 22 March 2013.
Hon. Karugarama outlined the steps Rwanda had taken in the promotion and protection of human rights nationally, regionally and internationally.
Rwanda reiterated its commitment to cooperating with the Human Rights Council and pledged Rwanda’s readiness to share its experience and lessons learned with the Council, particularly when dealing with situations of countries emerging from conflict or in transition.
He highlighted that Rwanda had passed a number of laws that had ensured a more independent and impartial judiciary.
The Minister also stated that as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, Rwanda would seek to prioritize the fight against sexual violence as well as issues related to the protection of civilians and the responsibility to protect.
The Minister also took the opportunity to address the situation in the region, Emphasising that ‘’the failure to address the presence of various negative forces in the eastern DRC has resulted in cycles of violence that have inflicted untold suffering on the people of the DRC and the region.
Rwanda has sought to work with the government and people of the DRC, sub-regional, regional and international actors to bring about a lasting solution to this issue.’’
He welcomed the signing of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for DRC as a step in the right direction and pledged Rwanda’s commitment to play a positive role in its implementation.
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