Stake holders in the justice sector and human rights have expressed their commitment in stoking their contribution to the JRLOS mission which is to strengthen access to quality justice for all.
According to its strategic plan, the JRLO (Justice, Reconciliation, Law and Order Sector), which brings together different stakeholders led by the ministry of Justice, with the civil society being the key partner, looks to efficiently provide justice-related services to the people of Rwanda with the aim of transforming Rwanda into a country marked by the rule of law, accountable governance and a culture of peace thus contributing to socio-economic development.
The commitment to uphold JRLOS mission countrywide was discussed during a roundtable meeting, held on May 10, 2021 in Kigali, with key stakeholders in the Justice Sector and Human Rights to engage and market the Role of CSOs to State Actors to Improve their collaboration, meaningful participation and contribution in the process of sustaining justice-based services in the society.
The attendees were taken through key Findings from the mapping conducted by IMRO of CSOs that are active in JRLOS at the District level. The aim is to bring together all active CSOs and those that are not yet active in the justice sector on the role of CSOs to influence policy and law-making processes.
“We acknowledge the work of IMRO and associated NGOs on CSOs that are active in JRLOS at the District level. This seeks to assess their effort, contribution to the justice sector, and to join hands to contribute to the government effort in achieving a sustainable justice for all. The justice sector includes different stakeholders, mainly civil society, which is the reason why today’s roundtable meeting was important,” said Anastase Nabahire, the Coordinator of JRLOS in the Ministry of Justice.
“We have set a vision that by July 2021, we will have had all information regarding all justice sector-based NGOs with their respective covered districts in order to make sure every District and Sector has that opportunity, all for the sake of building a better justice sector,” Nabahire added.
The roundtable was organized by Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion (RNGOF on HIV/AIDS & HP) bringing together all CSOs, state actors and other stakeholders working across the human rights and justice sector as well as those that are not yet active to strengthen collaboration and professional working relationship.
Speaking to the media amid the event, Anthony Busingye, Executive Secretary of The Youth Association for Human Rights Promotion and Development (AJPRODHO Jijukirwa) said: “We have assessed the realization of JRLOS in different Districts to see how we can improve its mission which is to Strengthen access to quality justice. We want to assure a constant help to the people of Rwanda in the field of justice and human rights. We aim to decrease a number of issues that are taken to courts of law. Working jointly with the government, which is the policy maker, ensures that we are in a good trend towards serving people with adequate justice support”.
The initiative was supported in line with a project “Strengthening Rwandan Civil Society Organizations’ Capacity to Influence Policy” that is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands – implemented by RNGOF in close collaboration with the Ministry of Justice under the JRLOS Secretariat and members of the Coalition, namely: Health Development Initiative (HDI) Great Lakes Initiative for Human Rights and Development (GLIHD) and Ihorere Munyarwanda Organization (IMRO).
