By Jean de Dieu Ndayisaba
The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has announced that it will directly receive and follow up on citizens’ complaints in Rusizi District, departing from its usual practice where cases are submitted online, by phone, or at its headquarters in Kigali.
Speaking during a community engagement activity, the President of NCHR explained that residents will be given an opportunity to present their unresolved cases in person, allowing immediate follow-up while the Commission’s team is still in the district.
“One of our core responsibilities is not only to promote human rights through education, but also to receive complaints that other institutions have failed to resolve,” he said. “We have staff on the ground, and we encourage citizens to come forward while we are still here. We will remain until Wednesday, and those who submit their cases will be informed of the next steps so that we can support them in accessing their rights.”
He also emphasized the role of sports in promoting human rights, reminding participants that physical activities contribute to good health and social cohesion. According to him, NCHR deliberately chose to engage communities through sports because of their strong link to human rights values.
“When people play together, they learn respect and understand both their own rights and those of others,” he noted. “Respecting the rights of others is the foundation for having one’s own rights respected.”
Rusizi District Mayor, Sindayiheba Phanuel, said that sports should be considered a responsibility rather than a personal choice, stressing that good health is the basis of all human activity.
“As part of respecting human rights, we must collectively fight gender-based violence—it concerns every one of us,” he said. “We must also address the growing problem of human trafficking, where young men and women are lured with promises of jobs and scholarships abroad, only to end up being exploited.”
The reception of citizens’ human rights complaints in Rusizi District will take place during community assemblies in the sectors of Gihundwe, Giheke, Bweyeye, and Nkombo on October 9, 2025.
From December 2 to 10, NCHR is conducting a series of outreach activities in Rusizi and Nyamasheke districts. These include discussions with students and youth groups, visits to correctional facilities, and other awareness initiatives aimed at strengthening respect for human rights.
The Commission receives complaints that remain unresolved by responsible institutions and supports complainants through advocacy to ensure appropriate action is taken. According to NCHR’s 2024/2025 activity report, out of 654 cases handled, 575 cases (87.9%) were resolved, 27 cases (4.1%) were investigated but remain pending, while 52 cases, representing 8 percent, are still under investigation.
