18.02.09 - ICTR/RWANDA - THIRD DOCUMENTATION CENTRE ON JUSTICE OPENS IN RWANDA

Arusha, 18 February,2009 (FH)-A third information and documentation centre on international justice  has been inaugurated in Rwanda Thursday under the framework of the European Union (EU) support to the International Criminal Tribunal to Rwanda (ICTR), trying key suspects of the 1994 genocide, reports Hirondelle Agency.

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The first Information centre was opened in December last year in Gasabo District, Kigali City.

The third centre is located in Muhanga District, Southern Province. Each centre has equipment and information material worth about Rwandan Francs 12 million [US$22,000).

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at the second centre in Nyamagabe, Southern Province, the Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Rwanda, Ambassador Dr David Macrae, encouraged decision makers to make a large use of these centres.

"It is often said that ICTR in Arusha is too far away for Rwandan citizens to really know and understand what is going on there. In documentation centres like this one, there will be a place to learn and think about justice, and justice for Rwandan people especially," he stressed at the function on Wednesday, which was also attended by the ICTR Prosecutor, Hassan Boubacar Jallow.

In total 10 information centres, equipped with computers, TVs, DVD players and internet will be up and running in the coming weeks.

The EU has supported ICTR's outreach programme with a funding of Euros 1.5 million (about US$ 1.9million) of recent years. The funds come from the European instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) as part of the European Union's endeavour to support the democratization and reconciliation process in Rwanda.

The EU has supported ICTR since 2004. Other important programmes funded by the EU support the Rwandan justice sector directly. This includes providing support for semi-traditional Gacaca jurisdictions, the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC), the National Commission of Human Rights (CNDP), the training of Abunzi, the Supreme Court and the TIG (community work).

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© Hirondelle News Agency