Oral Statement
Adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report of Rwanda
Delivered by Olimjon Bakhtaliev, CIVICUS
Thank you, Mr Vice-President.
CIVICUS and its partners welcome the government of Rwanda’s engagement with the UPR process. In the previous review, Rwanda supported recommendations relating to civic space and human rights defenders, and considered the implementation of those recommendations.
While we welcome the revision of Media Law (No. 02/2013), which was meant to provide a framework to protect press freedom, the law remained restrictive, requiring journalists to obtain accreditation from state institutions, rather than from independent, self-regulatory bodies.
We also note with concern that the institutional and legal impediments for sustained political space remain a challenge. The authorities continue to target and attack HRDs despite commitments made during the third UPR cycle to strengthen policies aimed at their protection. Investigation and accountability for perpetrators of human rights abuses never come to fruition.
Major online and broadcast media are either state-run or largely pro-government and outspoken independent newspapers no longer existed. The few private outlets that existed often practice self-censorship; targeted journalists, human rights defenders, and political opponents who express critical views are silenced.
CIVICUS and its partners call on the Government of Rwanda to immediately and urgently take proactive measures to implement all UPR recommendations, particularly pertaining to efforts to addressing civic space and human rights.
We urge Rwanda to establish and uphold, in law and in practice, a supporting environment for civil society; ensure that individuals and organisations operate without undue state interference.
We thank you.
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Civic space in Rwanda is rated as repressed by the CIVICUS Monitor