the Child, and adoption a new law relating to the Rights and Protection of the
Child in June 2012, which is meant to be, in effect, a “Bill of Rights” for
Rwandan children. The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion is
responsible for ensuring that the Integrated Child Rights Policy (2011) is
implemented, and that all policies concerning children follow the UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child.
h. Lack of a specific legislation to regulate legal aid in Rwanda
56. A functioning, fair and accessible justice system is vital for promoting good
governance, the rule of law and eradication of poverty. The Government of
Rwanda, in collaboration with development partners and civil society
organizations have been working towards improving access to justice for all
Rwandans by implementing measures that enhance access to justice for all
Rwandans but more so for the indigent. Legal aid provision has basis in the
Constitution of Rwanda. For instance Article 15 states that all human beings
are equal before the law. They are entitled to equal protection of the law.
57. A Legal Aid Policy was adopted by the Government of Rwanda on 15
October 2014 to provide legal aid to juvenile offenders. This has evolved to
providing legal aid to all indigents; elderly; the sick; prisoners; women in
prisons to mention but a few. To achieve this, one lawyer has been added to
MAJ to specifically deal with GBV issues; adopting legal aid delivery
methods, legal information and education, establishment of legal aid steering
committee, a legal aid fund and criteria for determining eligibility for legal
aid among others. Legal Aid was also integrated in the Justice Sector Strategic
Plan of the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice coordinates all legal aid
providers-State or non-State actors. There are 74 legal aid providers
countrywide including NGOs, Universities, Government Institutions and
Private Practitioners.
58. It should be noted however that there is no specific law regulating legal aid
in Rwanda though it is guaranteed in practice by different domestic laws.
Law N° 02/2010/OL of 09/06/2010 in Article 42 makes it mandatory for a
party in a case to be represented and if one cannot afford the services, free
legal assistance is to be given with the direction of the President of the
Supreme Court. Other provisions include article 150(3) and Article 203 of the
law No 30/2013 of 24/05/2013 relating to the code of criminal procedure, and
Article 64 of the law No 54/2011 of14/12/2011 relating to the rights and the
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