Facilitating the ratification and implementation of OPCAT in Rwanda

Aims and objectives
The HRIC on behalf of the Article 5 Initiative partnership managed a grant from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to support national efforts to designate a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) in Rwanda.

Rwanda ratified the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT) in June 2015 and in accordance with the terms of the OPCAT Rwanda has one year within which to designate a NPM. National discussions on the designation of an NPM have begun and the aim of this project is to support these deliberations and ensure that a workable framework for an NPM operating in Rwanda is designated in conformity with the OPCAT.

In order to meet this aim the HRIC, together with its partners under the Article 5 Initiative, and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), are working with the Rwandan National Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of Justice. Under the project two stakeholder consultations were held to identify and develop the framework for an NPM in Rwanda. These consultations included a broad range of stakeholders such as representatives from Government, law enforcement and correctional services, the national human rights institutions, and civil society organisations, as well as the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT), and the Association for the Prevention of Torture.

The overall aim of the consultations was to identify a viable NPM structure for the Rwanda context and to assist in the drafting of the legal framework setting out its mandate in accordance with the OPCAT.

The first stakeholder consultation took place on 30 November to 1 December 2015 in Kigali with the aim of raising awareness of the OPCAT; facilitating discussions on identifying a workable structure for an NPM in Rwanda; and starting the process of developing terms of reference for the NPM. This consultation was followed-up by further activities that took place between 15-17 March 2016 and focused on training on the OPCAT for civil society organisations; assisting with the development of an awareness raising brochure; preparations for a study visit; and elaborating provisions for a draft law on the NPM.

Although the initial project has now completed, the HRIC is continuing to work with local stakeholders, as well as the APT and its Article 5 Initiative partners to provide advice and support to the implementation of the OPCAT in Rwanda.