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The Great Lakes Regional Training Programme Extended to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

17/12/2017

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​On 11-16 December 2017, the 5th edition of the Great Lakes Regional Training Programme in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights took place in Kigali. This time, 72 students and lecturers from 24 universities were empowered with knowledge and skills in relation with rules applicable in armed conflicts, and human rights. Among the participating universities, 10 were from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. It is the first time since 2013 that English speaking countries have been accepted to join this regional Programme which started focusing on Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda.
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Team of invited experts posing for a family photo
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Participants posing for a family photo
Students’ research culminated with the production of two memorials, per team, containing arguments supported by relevant provisions of international instruments and case-law. Memorials addressed alternatively and separately the position of the prosecutor indicting the army general, operations commander, and that of the defense lawyer in accordance with the laws and procedures governing the International Criminal Court.​The activities of this edition were organized around the theme “Maintaining the Rule of Law in Armed Conflict Period: What protection for Children in the Great Lakes Region?”.
As usual, before coming for a one-week intensive training programme in Kigali, participants spent 3 months researching on the legal qualification of facts involved in a fictitious case depicting various violations of international humanitarian law and human rights. This year’s case was built on a scenario of post-electoral crisis that degenerated to a rebellion led by an opposition leader, who not only lost the elections but also refused to recognize the polls’ results. This rebellion was bloodily repressed by the governmental army with disastrous humanitarian consequences on civilians, including women and children.
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Partial view on participants during a conference presentation
​In Kigali, participants enriched their knowledge by attending workshops facilitated by renowned experts in the fields of international humanitarian law and human rights. Among these workshops, it is worth mentioning two because of both their technicity and their topicality. The first, facilitated by Dr. Raphael van Steenberghe, professor of international law at Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium, aimed at helping participants know and understand recent developments regarding the complementarity between international humanitarian law and human rights. The second related to the identification of lex specialis and how it is articulated with other rules governing armed conflicts was facilitated by Dr. Aurélie Tardieu, lecturer at Université de Caen in France. Moreover, participants attended a conference on how international humanitarian law and human rights law complement each other in protecting children in armed conflict period.
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Prof. Dr. Raphael van Steenberghe during his presentation
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Dr. Aurélie Tardieu setting up her presentation
To connect theory to practice, students participated in a moot court competition organized in two tracks. The Francophone track, competed by Congolese and Burundian universities, was won by Université de Kinshasa (from DR Congo) after facing in final another Congolese university, Universté de Goma. On the side of the English track, universities from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda faced each other. Moi University won the competition after a fierce pleading against Kampala International University from Uganda in the final.
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Moi University receiving its award from Caroline Tissot (Head of Swiss Development Cooperation, Great Lakes, second from left) in the presence of Dr. Elvis Mbembe (iPeace)
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University of Kinshasa Team Receiving its Award from Ms. Caroline Tissot (Swiss Development Cooperation right on the photo)
​The bench of Judges in preliminary rounds and in the grand final was composed of people with sound expertise in international law from iPeace partner universities and organizations based in Belgium, Cameroon, DR Congo, France, Netherlands, Rwanda, Switzerland, and Tchad.
Both finals took place in the main courtroom of the Supreme Court of Rwanda in the presence of the Chief Justice, prof. Sam Rugege, who also delivered closing remarks after he handed awards to best female pleaders on both sides. It was the first time that special prizes such as best overall pleader and best female pleader were introduced in the Great Lakes regional moot court competition. In his speech, Chief Justice acknowledged the pertinence of this programme not only in shaping the knowledge and skills or the region’s future lawyers and judges in international humanitarian law and human rights but also in promoting peaceful coexistence.
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Chief Justice, prof. Sam Rugege, handing the Award to the Best Female Pleader of the Francophone Track)
​This edition was supported by the Swiss federal department of foreign affairs, German Cooperation, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Commune Plan-les Ouates, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Association québécoise de droit international. Since 2013, 251 the people have benefited from this programme and are now members of the active Great Lakes Network, which regroups academics and practitioners interested in international humanitarian law and human rights in the Great Lakes region. The next edition will take place in Kigali on 9-16 December 2018.
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SECOND EDITION OF THE REGIONAL MOOT COURT COMPETITION IN INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS

3/6/2014

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For the second time in a row, Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (IPHR) in partnership with Comité pour le Concours Grands Lacs (CCGL) has organized a training on international humanitarian law and human rights for university students and lecturers of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.
During this competition two students representing respectively each university confronted their knowledge in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights around the theme: « Sexual Violence in period of armed conflict: What responses from the International Humanitarian law and Human Rights? ». In final, Universite Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs based in Goma (DR Congo) won the competition after a tough pleading battle against Universite Lumiere de Bujumbura – Kinindo Campus.
PictureGroup photo of all participants in the opening ceremony - (c) IPHR-IPDH
In total, fourteen (14) universities, namely University of Burundi, Université Lumière de Bujumbura (Kinindo Campus), Université Lumière de Bujumbura (Mutanga Campus), Université du Lac Tanganyika, Université des Grands Lacs, Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs, Université d’Uvira et des Grands Lacs, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Université Officielle de Bukavu, Université de Kisangani, Université de Kinshasa, University of Rwanda, Kigali Independent University (ULK – Kigali Campus) and Kigali Independent University (ULK – Gisenyi Campus) have participated in an intensive three-month training which is completed by a moot court competition in Kigali on 26 – 30 May 2014 in the buildings of Kigali Independent University (ULK-Gisozi). 
The organisation of this training/competition is itself a very big contribution in the efforts to enhance peace in the Great Lakes region, torn by multiple armed conflicts sine 90s, since it has not only equipped law lecturers and students with necessary knowledge to face the unfortunate legacy of these armed conflicts but also it has evidenced that academics from this region can work together for a noble cause. Furthermore this competition has also offered to students an opportunity of exposure and competitiveness at the international level. It is in this framework that, for instance, the two winners of the first edition (2013) were automatically admitted and offered a scholarship of about fifteen thousand American dollars each to pursue an advanced masters programme in international humanitarian law and human rights at the world-renowned Academy of the International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights of Geneva in the Switzerland. The automatic admission of these students in this world-class university, which receives an annual average of one thousand applications from all over the world for only forty available positions, as a consequence of their outstanding performance during the competition is a clear acknowledgment of the rigor and high level of this event.
This competition is now organized on an annual basis in rotation between these three countries where IPHR is already legally operating. Accordingly, the third edition will be held in Bujumbura (Republic of Burundi) on 11 - 15 May 2015. The second edition was funded by the City of Geneva and the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs with a logistical support from the International Committee of the Red Cross and Kigali Independent University (ULK). 


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IPHR President recognized one of the World's Top 99 Most Influential Leaders in Foreign Policy

10/9/2013

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PictureMr Elvis Mbembe Binda, President and Co-founder of IPHR
Elvis Mbembe Binda, IPHR's president and co-founder, has just appeared on the 2013 "99 Under 33" list published this afternoon by the US Magazine Diplomatic Courier as one of the World's Top 99 most Influential Leaders in Foreign Policy Under the age of 33. “99 Under 33” is an international list jointly launched by Diplomatic Courier and Young Professional in Foreign Policy in 2011 to capture the extraordinary impact on international affairs of 99 diverse Millennials under the age of 33. Several hundred people were nominated this year by last year’s 99 Under 33 honorees, ambassadors, business leaders, and scholars. Only 99 were selected after a rigorous three-step process by the Selection Committee. 
The list and individuals profiles of the Top 99 Under 33 offer insight into creativity, determination, and passion of the young people like Elvis Mbembe who are already tackling and solving the world’s critical global challenges. This year only four Africans appeared on the list of which most of the nominees are americans. Other African nominees are from Ghana, Kenya and Liberia. By design, this list is broad and diverse, encompassing entrepreneurs, technologists, journalists, bankers, activists, and scientists—as well as diplomats and other government officials. This reflects the belief that foreign policy in the 21st Century is made by leaders from all sectors. The "99 Under 33" recognizes the distinctive impact each of the honorees has on his or her community today and their promise of potential as leader in the future. 
Everyone on the list is quite different, but every single person was chosen for specific reasons. Each of the honorees has been mapped to one of the seven leadership archetypes that define the "99 Under 33", even though many of them exhibit most of these qualities in some facet of their work:
- A Catalyst is from a field not typically associated with foreign policy who has had an impact on international affairs.
- A Convener brings people together in creative ways to address a pressing international issue or enhance the foreign policy community.

- An Influencer mobilizes people in the foreign policy community with bold new ideas.
- An Innovator designs a new solution to a critical global challenge.
- A Practitioner changes foreign policy from the inside through extraordinary professionalism and skill.
- A Risk-taker takes a chance and sees it pay off.
- A Shaper changes the public discourse on an aspect of foreign policy or raises awareness on a critical issue.

“As a Catalyst, Elvis works tirelessly to uphold respect of human rights, good governance and rule of law in the Great Lakes of Africa. Elvis emphasizes the power of human rights and good governance education for sustainable peace in the region and he shares this approach with university students.” highlights Ana C. Rold, Editor-in-Chief, Diplomatic Courier. 

This nomination is a recognition of modest efforts that IPHR is doing to contribute in peace building in the Great Lakes region. For instance, in May this year IPHR organized a regional moot court competition in partnership with a Switzerland-based NGO (Comite pour le Concours Grands Lacs) on international humanitarian law and human rights that brought to Kigali law students and teachers from fourteen (14) universities of Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda. Two students (from the University of Kinshasa in DRC) who won the competition were automatically admitted to pursue a Master’s programme (LL.M) in Advanced Studies of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights at the Geneva Academy in Switzerland with full scholarship. 
Like other honorees, Elvis has been invited to the official reception that will be held in Washington, DC at the National Press Club on October 9th, 2013.


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Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights legally admitted to operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo

23/7/2013

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Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (IPHR) has just been given a go-ahead from the department of Justice of the South Kivu Province to operate countrywide in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This authorization has been long overdue. IPHR Headquarters are located in Bukavu. Before this authorization, IPHR was active in the Eastern DRC carrying out activities especially in North Kivu province with its partners such as Ligue Congolaise pour la Promotion des droits des Personnes Vulnerables et/ou Marginalisees (LiCoProMa). This authorization is a milestone in the achievement of IPHR's vision to cover in medium-term three countries of the Great Lakes region that are Rwanda, DR Congo and Burundi. More details about our action plan for the DR Congo will follow soon.


For questions or information, please address an email to Mr Ezechiel Amani Cirimwami, the Vice-President of IPHR-DR Congo at ezechiel.amani@iphr-ipdh.org.

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Scholarship grants for the winners of the 2013 Moot Court Competition

3/7/2013

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PictureElvis Mbembe, president of IPHR, with the competition winners
The winners of the first francophone regional moot court competition on international humanitarian law and human rights held in Kigali from 28-30 May 2013, miss Thesée-Aurore Mabaka and Mr Jean Jacques Tshiamala from the University of Kinshasa, have obtained an ex-officio admission to the Master’s program of advanced studies in international humanitarian law and Human Rights of the Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in Geneva (ADH) for the academic year 2014-2015 thanks to a very good collaboration between the Comité pour le Concours Grands Lacs (CCGL) and ADH.

This admission granted by the Director of ADH, Ms. Paola Gaeta, which includes a tuition scholarship of 15,000 Swiss francs (approximately U.S. $ 15,775) and a promise of grant to cover the cost of living in Geneva is not only an award for the outstanding performance of the winners but also a recognition of the quality and seriousness of the competition which wants to become an annual academic event in the African Great Lakes.

Indeed, from 28 to 30 May 2013, twenty-eight (28) students from public and private universities of Burundi, DRC and Rwanda shared their knowledge and arguments around a fictional case incorporating various violations of international humanitarian law and human rights that the Great Lakes region faces since the 90s. The competition was organized by the Committee for the Great Lakes Competition (Swiss-based NGO) in partnership with Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (NGO based in Rwanda) through financial support of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, the City of Geneva and the Paul Reuter Fund and logistical support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Université Libre de Kigali (ULK).

Preparations for the next edition are already underway.    

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Regional Francophone Moot Court Competition in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

6/6/2013

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PictureThe winning team of the competition
On 28-30 May 2013 in Kigali (at ULK Gisozi) was held a moot court competition in international humanitarian law and human rights. Twenty-eight (28) students from University of Burundi, Université Lumière de Bujumbura (Mutanga Burundi), Université Lumière de Bujumbura (Kinindo - Burundi), Université du Lac Tanganyika (Burundi), Université de Kinshasa (DRC), Université de Kisangani (DRC), Université de Goma (DRC), Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs (DRC), Université Officielle de Bukavu (DRC), Université Catholique de Bukavu (DRC), Université Nationale du Rwanda (Rwanda), Université Libre de Kigali (Kigali - Rwanda), Université Libre de Kigali (Gisenyi - Rwanda) and Institut d’Enseignement Supérieur de Ruhengeri (Rwanda) measured their knowledge of national, regional and international instruments on international humanitarian law and human rights in dealing with a fictional case incorporating various violations that the Great Lakes region suffers from since the 90s.
The final opposed the University of Kinshasa to the Official University of Bukavu. The University of Kinshasa won the first prize. The competition was held in French.    

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The runner-up team
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Some of those who attended the event
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The runner-up team receiving the award
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