The United Kingdom and the United States have raised concern regarding the violations of human rights in Rwanda.
The UK termed referred to the issue as “continued restrictions to civil and political rights and media freedom” in the country.
UK's ambassador to the EU Political and Security Committee Julian Braithwaite at the 37th Session of Universal Periodic Review when he made a statement on January 25, 2021 regarding the matter.
He stated, “As a member of the Commonwealth, and future Chair-in-Office, we urge Rwanda to model Commonwealth values of democracy, rule of law, and respect for human rights.”
Although the UK commended Rwanda’s “strong record” on economic and social rights, and promotion of gender equality, it made some recommendations regarding the human rights realm.
The UK advised Rwanda to conduct transparent, credible and independent investigations into allegations of extrajudicial killings, deaths in custody, enforced disappearances and torture and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.
It also urged the Paul Kagame government to enhance media freedom by protecting and enabling journalists to without fear of retribution, and ensure state authorities comply with the Access to Information law..
Braithwaite also recommended that trafficking victims, including those held in government transit centres, should be supported after screening and identification.
In a virtual lengthy statement, Rwanda’s delegation led by Justice Minister and Attorney General Johnston Busingye denied the claims.
According to Busingye there are no illegal detention facilities and the opposition and critical media were not being deliberately targeted as alleged.
Busingye also denied the alleged involvement of the government of Rwanda in forced disappearances.
The AG stated, “There are no prosecutions that target persons simply because they are politicians or journalists or human rights defenders, and the so-called political trials do not exist, nor are trials against journalists or human rights defenders just for being journalists or human rights defenders.”
The US also expressed concern over limited civic and political space in Rwanda even though it acknowledged that the African country has made progress in increasing gender equality and access to education.
In a statement, US State Department said, "This is specifically unduly burdensome permitting requirements which inhibit the right of peaceful assembly."
The US made various recommendations, one of which is to promote the right to freedom of expression by ending detentions and harassment of media members and civil society for their reporting.
According to the Human Rights World Report 2021, last year the Rwandan Patriotic Front of targeted those perceived as a threat to the government.
“Several high-profile government critics were arrested or threatened. Authorities failed to conduct credible investigations into the suspicious death in police custody of well-known singer and activist Kizito Mihigo, in February,” the report noted.
Arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, and torture in official and unofficial detention facilities went on, the Human Rights Watch noted.
They stated, “Fair trial standards were routinely flouted in many sensitive political cases, in which security-related charges are often used to prosecute prominent government critics.”
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