Case study: Rwanda – freedom of association and expression
Progress on social and economic rights in Rwanda since the genocide in 1994 remains impressive. One million Rwandans have been lifted out of poverty since 2007. There is continued progress in advancing the rights of women and girls. Social discrimination based on sexual orientation continues, but the legal framework remains non-discriminatory. The UK remains concerned over the constraints on political space in Rwanda, and is also disturbed about evidence of Rwandan support for the M23 militia who have committed human rights abuses in eastern DRC.
Freedom of association
Unregistered political parties experience harassment. The law transferring responsibility for registering parties to the Rwanda Governance Board has yet to be passed. The ability of political parties to secure registration ahead of the 2013 parliamentary elections will be a key test.
Freedom of expression
Rwanda exercises close control over the media, partly due to the role of the media in fomenting the 1994 genocide. We are encouraging a more open media environment. Laws allowing self-regulation of the media have yet to be enacted. Defamation remains a criminal offence. We are studying the conviction of opposition politician Victoire Ingabire who was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to undermine the established government and genocide denial. We will continue to follow the case if she launches an appeal. We are encouraged by the Supreme Court's decision to reduce the sentences of two journalists convicted in 2010 for threatening state security, genocide ideology and defamation against President Kagame. The Supreme Court overturned the genocide ideology and divisionism charges. Rwanda has signalled that it will revise the genocide ideology law, a move we support.
Conflict in DRC
There is credible and compelling evidence of Rwandan support for the M23 militia who have committed human rights abuses in eastern DRC, including the recruitment of child soldiers, sexual violence and the murder and displacement of civilians. The M23 militia's assault on Goma in November displaced an additional 140,000 people in and around the town. In this context, the International Development Secretary decided not to release £21 million as general budget support to Rwanda in November. We are encouraging the Rwandan government with other states in the region to help resolve the conflict in DRC, including through support for a regional framework agreement, and we will review the issue of general budget support in 2013. We continue to use our development programme to support the poorest Rwandans.
The UK has an ongoing dialogue with the Rwandan government on these and other issues, including alleged irregular detention and torture of civilians by security forces.
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