The government of Rwanda has officially rejected recommendations by the UN human rights council arguing that that they are either full of misconceptions or unfit for Rwanda’s progress.
This was announced today by the Minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama.
He was reacting to a report on the Universal Periodic Review that has recommendations for the country to improve its human rights, yet out of the 73 suggestions, Rwanda has rejected 6 of them.
The rejected recommendations appear to be out of Rwanda’s context, “some recommendations are a mockery to our human rights progress; I agree that not all is roses but they shouldn’t forget that a lot is being done to improve the situation”.
Karugarama wondered how the UN human rights council would urge Rwanda to deal with militias recruiting children which was untrue even the citizens themselves would confess there are no militia groups in the country.
In another recommendation, Rwanda is discouraged from recruiting underage people in the military. Minister Karugarama says that this allegation was also incorrect compared to the army’s enrollment procedure in which only those 18 and above are allowed.
“I wonder where they get this wrong information but I highly suspect they interview the country’s enemies who have fled the country on counts of various crimes and would criticize Rwanda as a way to cover up for their mistakes.
“It is also similar comments from the same renegades that incite that there’s arbitrary arrest yet according to laws one is taken to court after being jailed for not more than 72 hours,” he remarked.
On this note the chairperson of the National Human Rights commission Sylvia Zainabu rectified that some policemen that jail people against the law, their mistakes shouldn’t be attributed to the government. Those involved are always apprehended.
In another false recommendation, it is claimed that minority religions should be allowed to practice their faith. However, Karugarama stresses that no religion has been denied their right to operate in the country once they have fulfilled all the requirements.
In an accusation, Rwanda is advised not to discriminate against marginalized people (Abatwa). However, government rejects the accusation saying the Abatwa have a representative at the parliament and they are entitled to all resources just like any other citizen.
“Those who feel that they’ve been denied their rights can simply report the matter to the National Human Rights commission or the office of the ombudsman and justice will prevail,” Zainabu advised
The suggestions also demand that government respects the rights of indigenous people(Abatwa) which is contrary to Rwanda’s concept particularly on the fact that there’s no law that promotes discrimination.
“This is just a misconception from other countries like Australia where the majority invaded the country from other parts of the world,” he remarked.
However, Rwanda scored high in several sectors such as the social economic sector, this is well reflected in infrastructure, education, health, security amongst others.
Currently the government has approved the remaining 67 recommendations of which some were being implemented even before Rwanda delivered its human rights report to the UN in Geneva.
In this respect, Karugarma urged locals not to be incited by international reports since some are written without the right context of the country while others are false hoods to tarnish the stable leadership Rwandans are enjoying now.
“In the past we have suffered a lot and no one would teach us better how to enhance human rights, security for instance is enjoyed by all now, free education too not forgetting food really this are basics we wouldn’t have got in previous regimes.”
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