iPeace values connecting with local communities and strengthening its relationship with community partners and members; its team is looking forward to expanding its reach and increasing the services it provides in a near future.
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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.
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.  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.
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.
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.  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.
In the framework of its Gateway to Justice (G2J) Project, iPeace organized on Tuesday 26 September 2017 at Mater Boni Concilii Hotel (Huye) a workshop to empower 30 women including members of National Women Council from Gisagara, Huye, Nyamagabe, Nyanza, and Nyaruguru districts. The purpose of the workshop was to equip participants with adequate legal knowledge and skills to address family disputes, child protection and land issues, which appeared to be the top three issues that Rwandans face in the districts covered by G2J Project.  Group picture of trainers and trainees Opening this workshop, Mr. Kagabo Joseph representing the Mayor of Huye District, commended iPeace's legal aid to Huye people. Mr. Kagabo said that access to justice is fundamental for the protection of citizens' rights. That is why it is one of the top items on the agenda of Huye District. He requested the participants to take advantage of the training provided by iPeace's experts and to use the knowledge and skills they receive in preventing disputes not only in their own families but also in their communities. Closing his remark, Mr. Kagabo promised that the district will continue to work closely with iPeace to strengthen access to justice and good governance. This one-day workshop was organized in three parts. The first part facilitated by Mr. Yves Sezirahiga consisted of taking participants through the provisions of the new Family Law of Rwanda. In fact, since August 2016, Rwanda has got a new law governing family and persons. This law abrogated that of 1988. During his intervention, Mr. Sezirahiga highlighted the new changes brought by the new law, such as the timeframe for birth registration, requirements and procedure to change someone's names, rights and obligations of spouses, conditions and procedure for divorce, etc. The fourth edition of the Great Lakes Regional Training Programme in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights held in Kigali brought together a total of 30 students and 15 lecturers from 15 public and private universities from Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda. They participated in a number of activities including an intensive research, a training seminar, two workshops and a moot court competition. This project lasted twelve months, but the training part for this edition lasted from 12 to 17 December 2016. The training began with an intensive research on a fictitious case narrating various violations of the rules of international humanitarian law and human rights inspired by the local realities experienced in the region since the 1990s. At the end of this research, the two students representing each participating university submitted two briefs (memorials) defending in turn the position of the prosecutor and that of the defendant of a military commander prosecuted for having committed abuses during an internationalized armed conflict. In addition, all participants attended an interactive seminar on sexual violence in armed conflict led by an ICRC-Geneva expert, as well as two workshops on pleading techniques and the prominent aspects of the fictional case.  A group of participants posing with Dr Elvis Mbembe, President of iPeace ahead of the training Throughout the training activities, there was also a moot court competition between the participating universities. Experts from Belgium, Burundi, Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, the Netherlands, Switzerland, DR Congo and Rwanda sat as judges and evaluators of the above-mentioned briefs. This year, Mrs. Fatoumata Diarra Dembélé, former Vice-President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and a former judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), presided the jury of the moot court grand finale that took place in the Supreme Court of Rwanda.  Speakers during the 1-day international conference on perspectives of the prosecution of international crimes in Africa This fourth edition was made possible thanks to the support of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DDC-Geneva and DDC Kigali Regional Office), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the City of Geneva, Stichting Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (SIPHR – the Netherlands), the Utrecht University (Netherlands), the Société Québécoise de Droit International, the Pro Victimis Foundation and the Kigali Independent University (ULK). It is also worth noting the contribution of the Rwandan government through the availing of the courtroom of the Supreme Court where the final of the moot court competition was held.
The Great Lakes Regional Training Program in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights is an annual project co-organized since 2013 by Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (iPeace) in partnership with the Swiss non-governmental organization, the Comité pour le Concours Grands Lacs (CCGL) for law students and lecturers from public and private universities from Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda to strengthen their knowledge in international humanitarian law (rules and principles applicable in period of armed conflicts) and human rights. This project also aims to enhance peaceful coexistence among young people in these countries by offering them a unique opportunity to learn and work together. Since 2013, 114 students and 57 lecturers from public and private universities in these three countries have benefited from this continuous training which not only impacts the academic and professional aspirations of the participants towards international humanitarian law and human rights but also on the peaceful coexistence of young people in the region.  View on the sponsors of the 4th edition  iPeace Team during a field visit in Mahama Refugee camp in October 2015 Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (iPeace) partnered with Plan International Rwanda partnered with IPHR to provide Legal Services for Access to Justice to Burundian Refugees in Rwanda. The overall objective of this project was to provide access to public service to Burundian refugees in Rwanda. But more specifically, this project intended (a) to provide free, speedy and quality access to justice for Burundian refugees, especially to survivors of SGBV and child protection incidents; (b) to increase birth registration for babies born to Burundian refugees either in camps or in urban areas; (c) to build the capacity of administrative and justice actors including the police, public prosecution, judges, and local authorities at sector and district levels on forced migration laws and procedures; (d) to empower both refugees and host communities with basic knowledge on human rights, governance, and laws and legal procedures pertaining to refugees, child protection (CP), and SGBV; and (e) to do a strong advocacy for a non-discriminatory treatment of Burundian Refugees by administrative and judicial institutions.
Accordingly, iPeace received and handled 233 cases, including 33 SGBV cases, 26 CP cases, 5 common-law cases (robbery, alimony, etc.), and 169 birth registration cases. This represents an average of 58,2 cases per month and approximately 2 cases per calendar day. As far as SGBV/CP are concerned, 84% of cases were reported from Mahama camp, which is by the way the area hosting the majority of the Burundian refugees population. Similarly, more than 89% of cases related to birth certificates originated from Mahama Camp.  From 7 to 12 December 2016, Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (iPeace) organized in Kigali the third edition of the Great Lakes regional moot court competition in international humanitarian law and human rights in partnership with the Comité pour le Concours Grands Lacs (CCGL). The theme of this year was “The Fight Against Sexual Violence during an Armed Conflict Period: What role for local, regional and international actors?” The capacity of 42 students and lecturers from 14 universities from Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda was strengthened through various workshops and conference as weel as a moot court competition which was won by the Université Protestante au Congo (UPC) from Kinshasa. The final of the competition opposed the team of UPC to that of Université de Goma (UNIGOM). In addition to the finalists, the following universities participated in the training: Université du Burundi, Université du Lac Tanganyika, Université Lumière de Bujumura (Mutanga Campus), Université Lumière de Bujumbura (Kinindo Campus), Université des Grands Lacs, University of Rwanda, Université de Kisangani, Université de Mbujimayi, Université Officielle de Mbujimayi, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Unversité Officielle de Bukavu and Univesité Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs. This training was funded by the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs, the City of Geneva, Plan-les-Ouates municipality, Pro Victimis Foundation, and International Committee of the Red Cross.   Mr. Ezéchiel Amani lors d'une session de partage d'expérience avec la délégation de Seychelles Du 11 au 13 novembre 2014, Initiatives pour la Paix et les Droits Humains (IPDH) a participé par l’intermédiaire de monsieur Ezéchiel Amani, directeur national d’IPDH en République Démocratique du Congo, a un séminaire atelier de renforcement des capacités dans le cadre de la présentation des rapports étatiques au titre du Protocole à la Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples relatifs aux droits des femmes en Afrique organisé à Prétoria en Afrique du Sud par le Center for Human Rights de l’Université de Pretoria, et la Commissaire Soyata Maiga, Rapporteuse Spéciale sur les Droits de la Femme en Afrique de la Commission Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples. Dans l’ensemble, des délégués de haut niveau comprenant aussi bien les membres des gouvernements que les représentants d’ONG de droits de l’homme de la Tanzanie, de Seychelles, du Zimbabwe et de la RDC ont été invités. Ces délégations, regroupées par pays, ont rédigé des rapports étatiques, conformément aux directives en la matière, qu’elles ont présentés devant la CADHP instituée pour le besoin de la cause. Chaque pays a joué tantôt le rôle de la commission, tantôt celui de l’Etat partie présentateur du rapport et l’exercice était très instructif.  Mr. Ezéchiel Amani au milieu de deux autres participants en train de suivre attentivement une présentation Lors de ce séminaire, les principes directeurs du procédé des rapports d’États sur le Protocole à la Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples relatif aux Droits de la Femme en Afrique adoptés en 2009 par la CADHP ont été diffusés et réexaminés, afin de permettre aux participants de s’y familiariser et de faire tout le nécessaire pour que les États puissent honorer leurs obligations en vertu du Protocole. Le séminaire a également abordé le rôle de la société civile dans ce processus.
Entre autres, les matières ci-après ont été étudiées : (i) Introduction à la charte africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples et au système africain de protection des droits de l’homme ; (ii) Le protocole à la Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples relatif aux droits des femmes en Afrique ; (iii) Les droits de la femme en Afrique : vue d’ensemble des progrès et des défis ; (iv) Etats de rapports étatiques par pays devant les organes des Traités (Nations Unies) et à la CADHP ; (v) Les lignes directrices pour la soumission des rapports étatiques sur le protocole à la Charte Africaine des droits de l’Homme et des peuples relatif aux droits des femmes en Afrique ; (vi) Le rôle de la Société civile et des institutions nationales des droits de l’homme dans la préparation des rapports étatiques ; (vi) La préparation d’un rapport étatique : l’expérience sud-africaine. Il convient de rappeler que la présentation des rapports étatiques est une composante fondamentale du suivi de la mise en oeuvre du Protocole à la Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples relatif aux Droits de la Femme en Afrique (ci-après, le Protocole). L’article 26 de ce Protocole lu conjointement avec l’article 62 de la Charte oblige les États membres à incorporer dans leurs rapports périodiques présentés à la Commission Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples (ci-après, la CADHP), des indications sur les mesures législatives ou autres qu’ils ont prises pour la pleine réalisation des droits consacrés. Les rapports des États servent un certain nombre d’importantes fonctions, notamment : l’inventaire des mesures prises par les États parties en conformité avec les obligations découlant du Protocole ; l’identification des problèmes et des obstacles à la mise en œuvre complète du Protocole ainsi que l’opportunité d’un engagement constructif avec la CADHP pour que les États parties puissent bénéficier de recommandations concrètes. 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.  Group 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).  Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights – Initiatives pour la Paix et les Droits Humains (IPHR-IPDH) poursuit la consolidation de son implantation dans la région des Grands Lacs pour le renforcement de la culture de la paix à travers l’éducation aux droits humains et à la bonne gouvernance. C’est dans cet ordre que la personnalité juridique a été conférée à IPDH-Burundi et IPDH-RDC respectivement par l’Ordonnance du Ministère de l’intérieur No 530/333 du 03 mars 2014 et l’Arrêté du Ministre de la justice et des droits humains No 160/CAB/MIN/J&DH/2014. Pendant des longs mois que la procédure d’octroi de la personnalité juridique a pris pour aboutir à ces deux actes, IPDH n’a jamais tenté d’abdiquer à mener tant bien que mal ses activités dans ces deux pays. Ses activités ont été alors menées sur base des autorisations provisoires émises par des autorités compétentes. Il va de soi que ces deux actes ministériels sont d’une importance capitale dans la mesure où ils reconnaissent à IPDH d’être titulaire des droits et des obligations, en tant qu’organisation, dans chacun de ces pays. Dans ce sens, IPDH-IPHR attend une implication accrue des partenaires locaux, régionaux et internationaux dans la mise en œuvre de ses actions de renforcement de capacité des populations et autorités locales (à travers des sessions de formation), de recherche ainsi que de plaidoyer sur les droits humains et la bonne gouvernance dans la régions des Grands Lacs, sans oublier la facilitation de l’accès à la justice aux personnes démunies.  Vendeuses de denrées alimentaires le long d’une rue à Goma (RDC) – © IPDH 2014 Dans les années à venir, IPHR-IPDH attend se focaliser davantage sur la promotion et la protection des droits économiques et sociaux pour le mieux être des individus et communautés vivant dans cette région des grands lacs.
Par ailleurs, IPHR-IPDH est consciente que la région des Grands Lacs ne vit pas retranchée du monde. De ce fait, quand bien même la paix et la stabilisation de cette région sont la responsabilité première de ses filles et fils, elle (la région des grands lacs) reste aussi tributaire de la contribution de la communauté internationale dans son ensemble.C’est dans cette optique que la création de Stichting Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (SIPHR) a été légalisée dans la ville d’Utrecht au Royaume des Pays-Bas en date du 28 avril 2014 dans le but primaire de lever des fonds pour financer les activités d’ONG locales basées dans la région des grands lacs africains dans leur travail d’éducation aux droits humains et à la bonne gouvernance. Plus spécifiquement, les fonds levés par SIPHR seront destines à financer les projets visant (1) la promotion et protection des droits humains incluant entre autres l’accès gratuit à la justice aux personnes et groupes vulnérables tels que les femmes, les enfants, les personnes vivant avec handicap, les LGBT, les personnes vivant avec le VIH/SIDA, etc. (2) la reconstruction de la paix et la réconciliation, (3) le renforcement de la bonne gouvernance et de l’Etat de droit et (4) l’encouragement du réseautage entre les organisations poursuivant les objectifs ci-haut mentionnes. Il est anticipé au sein de la famille IPDH que le travail en synergie entre les sections nationales du Burundi, de la RD Congo et du Rwanda et SIPHR des Pays-Bas va impacter de façon durable la vie des hommes, femmes, enfants, jeunes et vieux de cette région du monde longtemps meurtrie par des conflits armés cycliques, d’une faiblesse avérée des institutions et des violations récurrentes des droits fondamentaux.  Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (IPHR) continues to strengthen its presence in the Great Lakes region in order to enhance the culture of peace through human rights and good governance education. It is in this framework that legal personality has been conferred to IPHR-Burundi and IPHR-DRC by respectively the Ordinance of the Ministry of Interior No.530/333 of 3 March 2014 and the Decree of the Minister of Justice and human rights No.160/CAB/MIN/J&DH/2014. During the long months that the procedure for granting legal personality took, IPHR never abandoned to pursue its mission in these two countries. IPHR’s activities were then conducted on the basis of provisional authorizations issued by the competent authorities. It goes without saying that these two ministerial acts are of paramount importance since they recognize IPHR to hold rights and obligations, as an organization, in each of these countries. It follows that IPHR-IPDH expects greater involvement of local, regional and international partners in the implementation of its actions in relation with building the capacity of individuals, communities and local authorities (through training), researching, and advocating for human rights and good governance in the Great Lakes region, not to mention facilitating access to justice for the poor.  In the coming years, IPHR intends to focus more on the promotion and protection of economic and social rights for the well-being of individuals and communities living in the Great Lakes region.
Moreover, IPHR is aware that the Great Lakes does not live cut off from the world. Therefore, even though the peace and stability of this region are the primary responsibility of its daughters and son, the Great Lakes region also remains dependent on the contribution of the international community as a whole. It is in this context that the creation of Stichting Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (SIPHR) was legalized in the city of Utrecht in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, on 28 April 2014 with the primary purpose of raising funds to finance activities of local NGOs based in the African Great lakes in their work of education on human rights and good governance. More specifically, the funds raised by SIPHR are intended to finance projects aiming at (1) the promotion and protection of human rights including, among others, free access to justice for vulnerable individuals and groups such as women, children, people living with disability, LGBT, people living with HIV/AIDS, etc., (2) the enhancement of peace-building and reconciliation, (3) the strengthening of good governance and the rule of law, and (4) the promotion of networking among organizations pursuing the objectives mentioned above . It is strongly believed within IPHR family that the synergy between the national organizations of Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda and SIPHR in Netherlands will impact in a sustainable way on the lives of men, women, children, youth and old in this region long scarred by cyclic armed conflicts, dramatically weak institutions and recurring human rights violations. |
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