35. In addition, human rights instruments have been translated in the three
official languages and the process of distribution is underway to all legal
practitioners in Rwanda. Also various sensitisation compaign programs have
been run – particularly to all practitioners in the country. Besides, a dedicated
program has been developed to fully sensitise and inspire all practitioners to
use international human rights instruments particularly in courts of laws.
(d) Detention Conditions
36. The newly established Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS) is responsible
for the promotion and protection of the rights of incarcerated people in
accordance with the Rwandan and international laws. It is also responsible
for ensuring the respect of life, physical and moral integrity and wellbeing of
detainees. The Presidential Order governing the construction and the
organization of prisons in Rwanda provides that each prison facility must
have dormitories, suitable toilettes, sports courts, a health centre, guest’s
halls, a kitchen, water and electricity, as well as appropriate air conditioning
system for the welfare of detainees and the preservation of safe environment.
37. Each prison in Rwanda has a health facility with medical personnel and in
case of serious illness, prisoners/inmates are transferred to the Rwandan
District hospitals, and if the illnesses require specialized care and treatment,
they are referred to the provincial/Referral Hospitals. In an effort to find a
solution to the problem of congestion in prisons, new prisons have been
constructed: Mpanga prison (in Southern Province), in which convicted
criminals from the Special Court for Sierra Leone are imprisoned; children’s
rehabilitation centre of Nyagatare (Eastern Province) for only minors; the
Rubavu prison (Western Province) as well as the prison of Mageragere
(Kigali City). Rehabilitation of old prisons such as Huye and Rwamagana
has been done. Ngoma, and Nyamagabe prisons are used by women only
and RCS is planning to establish one female prison per province.
38. Rwanda has also adopted alternative measures to imprisonment including
community works (TIG). Some prisoners are released conditionally before
the end of their prison sentences under certain conditions and more than
11,000 people who were under TIG programme had been reintegrated. The
Special Court for Sierra Leone and the International Criminal Tribunal for
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