In a landmark initiative to improve the execution of justice, Rwanda Bridges to Justice is poised to hold a transformative two-day workshop aimed at enhancing the plea-bargaining expertise of pro-bono legal practitioners. Scheduled for March 12 and 13, 2024, this workshop will convene lawyers from across all 30 districts of Rwanda carefully selected to maintain gender balance in the nation’s capital, Kigali.
The need for such a workshop has emerged from the challenges faced by the justice system, notably occasional concerns regarding the rejection or modification of plea bargain agreements in the criminal justice process. This has highlighted the critical demand for heightened negotiation skills among legal professionals, to facilitate more streamlined legal proceedings and equitable resolutions. The collaborative effort of Rwanda Bridges to Justice (RBJ) and the Rwanda Bar Association (RBA) will see 90 pro bono legal practitioners, including key actors in the plea-bargaining process, receive targeted skills enhancement and strategic insight.
This training endeavors is not just about refining the efficiency of Rwanda’s justice system, but also about ensuring alignment with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations that have been endorsed by the Rwandan government. With the generous financial backing of the Advocates for International Development (A4ID) programme, Rule of Law Expertise UK (ROLE UK), UKAid and the European Union through the Advancing Human Rights in Rwanda (AHRR) Project, the workshop is set to offer a comprehensive curriculum. Participants will explore a variety of topics, from negotiation techniques to understanding the intricacies of UPR advocacy goals and the international human rights law framework.
The significance of this workshop training cannot be overstated, as it has the potential to revolutionise Rwanda’s legal practices. By empowering legal professionals to navigate plea-bargaining processes effectively and by fostering a robust understanding of UPR objectives, the workshop aims to equip participants for advocacy that promotes swift and fair justice. This initiative is a testament to Rwanda’s enduring dedication to the principles of the rule of law and accessible justice for all its citizens. It is expected that through these concerted training efforts, legal practice in Rwanda will enter a new era defined by diligence, fairness, and conformity with global human rights standards.
By Carine Kayitesi
