Human rights in Rwanda

This article presents an overview of human rights in Rwanda.

During the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, 800,000 people were murdered. [ [http://archquo.nouvelobs.com/cgi/articles?ad=etranger/20061121.OBS9896.html&host=http://permanent.nouvelobs.com/ "Mandats d'arrêt contre des proches de Kagame"] , "Nouvel Observateur"]

Subsequent governments, including the current government led by President Paul Kagame, have been accused by Amnesty International of numerous human rights violations, notably extra-judicial killings. According to Amnesty International, between December 1997 and May 1998, thousands of Rwandans "disappeared" or were murdered by members of government security forces and of armed opposition groups. Amnesty International states that the Rwandan Patriotic Army and armed opposition forces both "deliberately target unarmed civilians", including children. [ [http://www.amnesty.org/fr/library/asset/AFR47/023/1998/fr/dom-AFR470231998fr.html "RWANDA: À l'abri des regards, les "disparitions" et les homicides continuent"] , Amnesty International, June 23, 1998]

According to Human Rights Watch, Rwandan troops involved in the Second Congo War were responsible for the deaths of thousands of Congolese civilians. [ [http://www.hrw.org/french/press/2001/kabila0201-fr.htm "Congo, Rwanda Responsables de Graves Abus"] , Human Rights Watch] At the time, Pasteur Bizimungu was President of Rwanda, while Paul Kagame was Vice-President and Minister of Defence.

Regarding human rights under the current government of President Paul Kagame, Human Rights Watch has accused Rwandan police of several instances of extra-judicial killings and deaths in custody. [ [http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/07/23/rwanda16455.htm "Rwanda: Police Killings Tarnish Rule of Law"] , Human Rights Watch, July 24, 2007] [ [http://hrw.org/reports/2007/rwanda0707/ "“There Will Be No Trial”: Police Killings of Detainees and the Imposition of Collective Punishments"] , Human Rights Watch, July 2007] In June 2006, the International Federation of Human Rights and Human Rights Watch described what they called "serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by the Rwanda Patriotic Army". [ [http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/06/02/rwanda13504.htm "ICTR Should Address Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed by the RPA"] , Human Rights Watch, June 2, 2006]

According to "The Economist", Kagame "allows less political space and press freedom at home than Robert Mugabe does in Zimbabwe", and " [a] nyone who poses the slightest political threat to the regime is dealt with ruthlessly". [ [http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11959125 "A flawed hero"] , "The Economist", August 21, 2008]

The United States' government in 2006 described the human rights record of the Kagame government as "mediocre", citing the "disappearances" of political dissidents, as well as arbitrary arrests and acts of violence, torture and murders committed by police. US authorities listed human rights problems including the existence of political prisoners and limited freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion. [ [http://rwanda.usembassy.gov/hrrfrench.html "Human Rights Reports: Rwanda"] , embassy of the United States in Rwanda]

Reporters Without Borders listed Rwanda in 147th place out of 169 for freedom of the press in 2007 [ [http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=24025 "Eritrea ranked last for first time while G8 members, except Russia, recover lost ground"] , Reporters Without Borders] , and reported that "Rwandan journalists suffer permanent hostility from their government and surveillance by the security services". It cited cases of journalists being threatened, harassed and arrested for criticising the government. According to Reporters Without Borders, "President Paul Kagame and his government have never accepted that the press should be guaranteed genuine freedom." [ [http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=20737 "Rwanda - Annual Report 2007"] , Reporters Without Borders]

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