Human Rights: Arusha Accord – 4 August 1993

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Human Rights: Arusha Accord – 4 August 1993

Implementations

Human Rights – 1993

The Arusha Accord of 1993 contained three main stipulations regarding human rights: (1) the establishment of a National Commission on Human Rights; (2) the establishment of an International Commission of Enquiry to investigate human rights violations committed during the war; and (3) the ratification of major international human rights treaties.

None of these stipulations were fulfilled in 1993.

Human Rights – 1994

None of these stipulations were fulfilled in 1994. On April 6, 1994, Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana is killed when his plane is shot down. On April 7, Hutu extremists begin killing their political opponents in violence which escalates to genocide. In July 1994, RPF takes control of the government and the genocide ends.

Human Rights – 1995

None of the stipulations regarding human rights were fulfilled this year.

Human Rights – 1996

None of the stipulations regarding human rights were fulfilled this year.

Human Rights – 1997

One of the provisions of the Arusha Accord was to establish a National Human Rights Commission. In November 1997, a presidential decree was given to establish the commission and a law was passed in December of 1997. The commission was not operational and no members were appointed in 1997.1“Rwanda Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1998,” US State Department, 1999, accessed September 2011, http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1998_hrp_report/rwanda.html…

Human Rights – 1998

In 1998, the Rwandan government passed a law making the National Commission for Human Rights a permanent and independent entity.2

  1. “Cabinet Approves Establishment of Commissions on Rights, Reconciliation”, BBC Monitoring Africa, November 21, 1998

Human Rights – 1999

In 1999 the National Commission for Human Rights was formally established and became operational.3

  1. “Premier Outlines Government’s Achievements,” BBC Monitoring Africa, July 16, 1999.

Human Rights – 2000

No developments observed this year.

Human Rights – 2001

No developments observed this year.

Human Rights – 2002

In 2002 the government ratified two international treaties on human rights. The first was the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which involves children in armed conflict. Subsequently, on 14 March, 2002, the government ratified the CRC Optional Protocol Sale of Children 2000.4

  1. “Rwanda- International Treaties Adherence,” accessed September 21, 2011, http://www.adh-geneva.ch/RULAC/international_treaties.php?id_state=185