Situation of Human Rights in Rwanda

A/RES/51/114View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, published in 1997.

What other versions does this mandate have?

6 versions · 1995–2000

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/54/188

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2000	A/RES/54/188	Situation of human rights in Rwanda	1,381	26%Compare
1999	A/RES/53/156	Situation of human rights in Rwanda	1,156	36%Compare
1998	A/RES/52/146	Situation of human rights in Rwanda	731	25%Compare
1997	A/RES/51/114	Situation of human rights in Rwanda	1,848	25%Compare
1996	A/RES/50/200	Situation of human rights in Rwanda	2,417	18%Compare

What subjects does this mandate have?

19 subjects

Administration of Justice Advisory Services Coordination Within UN System Detained Persons Due Process of Law Financial Assistance Genocide Human Rights Human Rights Violations International Humanitarian Law Judicial System Law Enforcement Prisoner Treatment Rape Resettlement Return Migration Rwanda Rwandan Refugees Technical Cooperation

What’s in this document?

21 operative paragraphs

Welcomes the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda⁶and the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights;⁷

⁶A/51/478, annex.

⁷A/51/657.

I

Condemns in the strongest terms the acts of genocide, violations of international humanitarian law and all violations and abuses of human rights that have taken place in Rwanda, as well as cross-border violence in the region;

Expresses its deep concern at the intense suffering of the victims of genocide and crimes against humanity, recognizes the ongoing suffering of their survivors, particularly the extremely high number of traumatized children and women victims of rape and sexual violence, and urges the international community to provide adequate assistance to them and to note the priorities identified by the Government of Rwanda in this area;

Reaffirms that all persons who committed or authorized acts of genocide or other grave violations of international humanitarian law and those who are responsible for grave violations of human rights are individually responsible and accountable for those violations, and that the international community must exert every effort, in cooperation with national and international tribunals, to bring those responsible to justice, in accordance with international principles of due process;

Urges all States to cooperate fully, without delay, with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States, between 1 January and 31 December 1994, taking into account the obligations contained in Security Council resolutions 955 (1994) of 8 November 1994 and 978 (1995) of 27 February 1995, and encourages the Secretary-General to facilitate the activities of the Tribunal to the greatest extent possible;

II

Encourages the further efforts of the Government of Rwanda to reconstruct the civil administration and the social, legal, economic and human rights infrastructure of Rwanda, and in this regard welcomes the commitments made by the Government of Rwanda to restore the rule of law and protect and promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;

Invites all States, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue and to intensify their contributions of financial and technical support to accelerate the efforts of the Government of Rwanda to, inter alia, restore the judicial system, promote reconciliation through the recently established Commission for National Reconciliation and safely reintegrate returning refugees in conditions of safety and dignity, including addressing competing claims to housing and property;

Notes with concern the human rights situation in Rwanda as described in the report of the Special Rapporteur, and urges the Government of Rwanda to take all necessary measures in response to the recommendations therein;

Expresses grave concern at reports from the Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda of killings of civilians during attacks on survivors and witnesses of genocide, apparently by militias and insurgents opposed to the Government of Rwanda, and at the reports of the Field Operation which state that civilians have been killed during military search operations by the Rwandese Patriotic Army;

Encourages the Government of Rwanda to continue in its efforts to further strengthen the judicial system, including its independence, and urges in particular that the processing of the cases of those in detention be brought to a conclusion expeditiously;

Notes with deep concern the reports of the Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda which state that government officials without legal authority to arrest or imprison continue to do so in several parts of the country, that detainees are held for very long periods before trial and that acute overcrowding threatens the safety of those in detention;

Invites the Government of Rwanda to continue efforts to involve, without any discrimination, all citizens not responsible for genocide or other grave violations of international humanitarian law in its administrative, judicial, political and security structures;

Emphasizes the importance it attaches to the safety and security of all people in Rwanda, including United Nations personnel and other international staff serving in the country;

Welcomes the efforts of the Government of Rwanda, neighbouring countries, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the international community to resolve the ongoing humanitarian crisis, and calls upon all parties to take all appropriate measures to ensure the return, resettlement and reintegration of former refugees in conditions of safety and dignity;

Commends and encourages the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as well as the United Nations Development Programme and other United Nations offices and organizations to coordinate their efforts to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of refugees during their return, resettlement and reintegration;

III

Welcomes the measures taken by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, working in cooperation with and assisting the Government of Rwanda, to put in place the Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda, the objectives of which were described in resolution 50/200, and requests the High Commissioner to continue to report regularly on the activities of the Field Operation and to continue to cooperate and share information with the Special Rapporteur, in order to assist him in fulfilling his mandate;

Welcomes also the cooperation the Government of Rwanda has extended to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur and the Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda and the acceptance by the Government of Rwanda of the deployment of human rights field officers throughout the country and, with a view to further strengthening a climate of mutual confidence and enabling authorities in Rwanda to take immediate action on the findings of the Field Operation, encourages dialogue on human rights issues between the Field Operation and the appropriate authorities at the level of commune, prefecture, and relevant government ministries;

Commends the contribution of human rights officers and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to the promotion and protection of human rights in Rwanda, recognizes that a strong human rights component is an integral and indispensable element of the United Nations response to the situation in Rwanda, and encourages all agencies and organizations of the United Nations system active in Rwanda to coordinate closely with the Field Operation;

Recognizes the importance of the Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda in contributing to reconciliation and the establishment of confidence in the country, recommends the strengthening of its presence throughout Rwanda as well as the allocation of sufficient funds and logistical support for that purpose, taking into account the need to train local human rights observers and deploy a sufficient number of human rights field officers, recognizes also the need for programmes of technical assistance and advisory services for and in consultation with the Government of Rwanda and for Rwandan human rights organizations, and notes in particular the importance of strengthening the institutional capacity of the Rwandan judiciary and the urgent need for adequate resources in this area;

Calls upon all States to respond to the appeal of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and contribute urgently to the costs of the Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda and to work for lasting solutions to its financing problems, including through the regular budget of the United Nations;

Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to report on the activities of the Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-third session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What other versions does this mandate have?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

I

II

III

Table of contents