A recent report by Human Rights Watch has shed light on the serious human rights abuses being perpetrated in detention facilities in Rwanda, including the torture of inmates. The report, based on interviews conducted between 2019 and 2024 with nearly 30 individuals, including former inmates, highlights the lack of accountability for those responsible for these abuses.
Under President Paul Kagame’s three-decade rule, political dissent and free speech have been suppressed, leading to a shrinking space for civil rights in the small east African country. The report by HRW paints a grim picture of the conditions in Rwandan detention facilities, describing them as a “place of fear” for inmates.
Speaking on the issue, Clémentine de Montjoye, Senior Researcher in the Africa division of Human Rights Watch, emphasized the need for accountability and justice for the victims of these abuses. The lack of transparency and accountability in the Rwandan justice system has allowed these violations to continue unchecked for years.
International campaigners have long been calling attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Rwanda, urging the government to uphold the rights of its citizens and ensure that detention facilities are not places of torture and fear. The HRW report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for reforms and accountability in Rwanda’s justice system.
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Video “Rwanda detention abuses make jail ‘place of fear’, HRW report says • FRANCE 24 English” was uploaded on 10/15/2024 to Youtube Channel FRANCE 24 English