Rwanda

The Programme is articulated around the following areas:
To build the capacity of the ministry of justice to review and draft laws and policies and sensitise the citizens on basic laws and individual rights; to build the capacities of the justice institutions in the areas of administration of justice, and law enforcement by building a strong judiciary plus an effective and well coordinated justice sector; promote crime prevention through encouraging community policing; strengthen peace building and reconciliation through support to Gacaca and increase access of justice to the people especially the most vulnerable by reinforcing legal aid mechanisms and mediation committees. (Witness protection through PGR is running through a separate project for 2008, beyond that a review is necessary to see how the activities can be sustained) NB: Support to legal aid by strengthening MAJ and other related activities for 2008 will be funded through DGTTF and this is incorporated in this large program of support to the justice sector. For sustainability since DGTTF covers one year the program is designed for 5 years and funding will be provided from UNDP for the following 4 years to continue support to this important activity.
The Programme was conceived through the human rights based approach promoted by the United Nations since 2003 for all its international cooperation interventions. This approach requires, that the capacity of the leaders to meeting their obligations towards the most vulnerable people is strengthened and that the ordinary people are encouraged to voice their concerns and to participate more actively in the governance of the country .

• I. Strengthening the review and drafting of laws
• II. Increased awareness by the citizens of the main legal provisions crucial in their daily life (family, land, inheritance and penal law) and improved understanding of their fundamental rights and improved crime prevention through community policing.
• III. Reinforcing legal aid and mediation mechanisms for a justice accessible to the people especially the most vulnerable groups.
•IV.  Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the judicial system both classical and Gacaca courts for improved peace building and reconciliation.
V. Strengthening justice administration and law enforcement by building a strong, effective and well coordinated justice sector.

In the course of 2009 4 additional Maison d'Acces a la Justice have been opened with the project's funds and 9 MAJ were opened with other funds. This has further broadened access to justice to the population and the MAJ in Nyanza alone has received 1,823 cases.
2009 has also marked the first year of the SWAp implementation and under the SWAp four technical working groups have been meeting regularly to discuss on issues around planning, budgeting and policy issues.
The Support to Gacaca has now been phased out; in its last year of operation UNDP has supported the finalisation of the writing up of the history of Gacaca as well as supported the equipment of the Documentation Centre which is now open to the public and the central repository for all documents related to the Gacaca process.
In its support to the Supreme Court UNDP has funded the training of 167 judges in drafting of judgments, the equipment of 6 courts with archiving infrastructure and with funds for field trips for judges and registrars who travel to remote areas to deliver summons and judgments. This has further helped to increase access to justice and speed up the process of clearing of backlog cases.
With the Rwanda National Police UNDP has continued working on community policing. The RNP, with the support of a consultant has developed a communication strategy to improve communication and interaction between the RNP and the communities. 150 police officers have been trained in community policing strategies. This supports crime prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts. Further, RNP has visited a total of 100 schools across the country to sensitise students on crime and genocide ideology prevention.
And finally, RNP has also been supporting its women's network promoting female police officer career development and to encourage women to join the police force. The female police officers have also been trained on the correct handling of SGBV cases.