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The ICRC in Rwanda
29-10-2010 Overview
In Rwanda ICRC continues to address the humanitarian consequences of genocide as well as of past and present armed conflict in the region. Its programmes address the needs of detainees and unaccompanied children and minors. It supports the humanitarian activities of the Rwanda Red Cross and promotes adherence to and implementation of international humanitarian law (IHL).
The ICRC has maintained a delegation in Rwanda since 1990.
Rwanda has seen tangible socioeconomic development since the 1994 genocide, owing to strong international support and, increasingly, strong trade relations. Diplomatic ties were restored with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and France, and the country was re-admitted to the Commonwealth.
Nonetheless, humanitarian consequences of genocide as well as of past and present armed conflict in the region remain a heavy burden. There are still over 50,000 Rwandan refugees in neighbouring countries and some 55,000 refugees from neighbouring countries in Rwanda. More than five years after its official start, Rwanda plans to complete the semi-traditional court exercise ('gaçaça') that has dealt with some 1.5 million cases. Some 42,000 convicted génocidaires are serving often long-term imprisonment. Tens of thousands of orphans are in need of protection and support. Former arms carriers continue to return to Rwanda in considerable numbers under a UN-facilitated disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration programme.
With its detention programme the ICRC continues to support the civilian penitentiary administration to address the needs of the some 65,000 detainees in the 14 civilian prisons with regard to personal and collective hygiene, sound sanitary conditions, cooking facilities and access to primary health care. Specific attention is given to the conditions of particularly vulnerable categories of detainees such as minors, women with infants, the elderly, detainees claiming foreign citizenship, and those awaiting trial. In all related activities, the ICRC contributes to building the capacity of the prison administration through sharing and transfer of expertise and experience with managerial and technical staff.
Detention visits are also carried out for people in custody of the Rwanda National Police or of the Rwanda Defence Forces, with the aim of maintaining a constructive and confidential dialogue with the authorities concerned on treatment and material conditions of detainees.
Children that have been separated from their families, either during the 1994 genocide or during past or present armed conflict in the region benefit from ICRC tracing services, which aim to restore family contacts, reunite families and facilitate reintegration into family life.
To help refugees and returnees in the region restore or maintain family links, the ICRC provides the Rwandan Red Cross with financial and technical support to collect and distribute Red Cross messages and process tracing requests. For former arms carriers who have returned to Rwanda, the ICRC offers tracing services, chiefly by means of Red Cross Messages.
The ICRC provides the Rwandan Government and Parliament with legal advice on adherence to IHL treaties and on incorporating IHL into domestic legislation. It also conducts IHL dissemination sessions for military personnel leaving on peace-support missions.
Working closely with the Rwandan Red Cross, the ICRC helps the National Society develop its capacity to carry out its programme of work, including restoring family links, providing relief and health assistance in situations of armed conflict or violence, promoting IHL, and equipping, training and coordinating its staff and volunteers.
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