Overview of Human Rights in Rwanda

Rwanda is a constitutional republic.  Overall, Rwanda has a very poor record of human rights, when compared with other countries across the globe.

The country's poor human rights record is not helped by a variety of dire socio-economic factors. Notably, the combination of widespread poverty, the continuing erosion of the nations’ human resource base (due to HIV/AIDS and famine), low institutional capacity, and poor social and economic infrastructures, affect not only the human rights situation, but also the ability of the government to function effectively.

The judiciary is not free from the influence of the executive branch. Therefore, political prisoners are often denied fair trials.  Of particular significance is the fact that former President Pasteur Bizimungu is still being held as a political prisoner in Rwanda.

The government has never effectively addressed consequences of the 1994 genocide. Over 80,000 people are still being detained and await trial for their alleged participation in the genocide. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of Rwandese women have been raped - 70 percent of whom contracted HIV as a result. Twelve years after the genocide, many of the rape victims still have no access to medical care.

Security forces in Rwanda act with impunity. Arbitrary arrest, detention, use of excessive force, torture, and unlawful killings are all done without fear of reprisal. Prison conditions are harsh.

The government restricts freedoms of speech, press, assembly, religion, and association. The government also infringes upon the privacy rights of its citizens. Refugees’ rights are often arbitrarily revoked as well.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

158th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.