“By abruptly terminating the mission and turning to the media before discussion with the host government, the committee violated its own guidelines as well as the pre-agreed schedule of the visit,” Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Johnston Busingye has said.
Busingye was reacting to the UN’s SPTthat last week announced that it suspended its visit to Rwanda due to lack of cooperation from the Government and to a series of obstructions imposed by authorities by denying access to some places of detention and in assuring the confidentiality of interviews with inmates.
The committee also claimed that it received allegations that some interviewees could face reprisals.
According to Busingye, in five days, the committee conducted field visits to several institutions including prisons, police stations, transit centers and a psychiatric hospital, interviewing staff, inmates and patients.
He says that Rwanda considers the visit termination as an act of bad faith.
“Any technical issues that arose during field visits were immediately resolved. Allegations of reprisals for anyone interviewed are baseless and inflammatory. While we will continue to uphold the Convention against Torture, we will consider our options in respect of the Optional Protocol,” Busingye said.
“Rwanda voluntarily ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, part of the minority of states-parties to have done so. The SPT exists to reinforce national institutions, not replace them,” he noted.
He says that during its mission to Rwanda, the SPT visited institutions across the country specifically chosen by the committee itself.
Among visited institutions are Rilima and Muhanga Prisons; Nyamata, Kimihurura, and Nyamirambo Police Stations; Gikondo Transit Centre; Kami Rwanda Defence Forces 1st Division Headquarters and Ndera Psychiatric Hospital.
The SPT also interviewed a cross-section of people chosen by the committee, including prisoners, detainees, psychiatric patients, soldiers, rehabilitation centre inmates and staff at all places visited.
The delegation suspended their mission on day five of their planned seven-day visitclaiming that they faced some obstructions including being denied access to some places.
“We have been barred from completing our work in some places, and grave limitations have been imposed on granting access to certain places of detention,” said ArmanDanielyan, head of the STP delegation.
“We have also been unable to carry out private and confidential interviews with some persons deprived of their liberty. Moreover, many of those we have managed to interview have expressed fears of reprisals. We must not place the persons that have cooperated with us in danger,” he added.
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