PROGRESS IN NATIONAL UNITY AND RECONCILIATION PROCESS

IN RWANDA

By Ms Fatuma NDANGIZAExecutive Secretary

NURC

NURC 2

I. INTRODUCTION

12 years after devastating genocide, The Government and the people of Rwanda are committed to the process of national unity and reconciliation as a pre-requisite for lasting peace, security, respect of Human Rights and development which are the foundations for rebuilding Rwanda.

Towards this goal a Commission for National Unity and Reconciliation (NURC) has been created by an act of parliament in March 1999.

NURC 3

II. THE GOAL AND MANDATE FOR NURC:

The goal for NURC is to promote unity and reconciliation by enabling a climate of trust and harmony among the people of Rwanda. The mandate of the NURC (refer to article 178 of the Rwandan Constitution)

NURC 4

III. RECONCILIATION IN RWANDA TAKES TWO DIMENSIONS

a) Political Dimension

b) Interpersonal Dimension.

NURC 5

III. (a) AT THE POLITICAL DIMENSION:

Involves holistic approach to peace building: building a culture of inclusiveness Establish institutions that promote unity

and reconciliation rule of law and good governance

NURC 6

III. (b) AT THE INTERPERSONAL DIMENSION

Starts with the self:

Accepting and coming to terms with realities of our dark past.

Personal transformation that leads to repentance, confessions, forgiveness and restoration of broken relationship.

NURC 7

IV. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

AT POLITICAL LEVEL:

• Establishment of NURC to enhance unity and Reconciliation

• Ensuring equal rights and opportunities at all levels (Education, jobs, social services and power sharing).

• Creation of institutions that promote transparency and good governance

• Repatriation, and resettlement of refugees and re-establishment of trust in the society (security, return of property, adoption of children, creation of of Gacaca Courts etc)

NURC 8

IV. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS (cont…)

AT POLITICAL LEVEL • Introduction of Ingando for better

understanding of our historical and current challenges for promotion of reconciliation

• Promotion of gender equality and fight against all sorts of discrimination.

• Employing various conflict resolution methods for promotion of peace and reconciliation (e.g. popular consultation, research, citizen empowerment…),

NURC 9

IV. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS (cont…)

• Power-sharing arrangement at executive and legislative levels to enhance inclusion and participation.

• Release of confessed genocide perpetrators.

• Creation of the survivors fund

NURC 10

IV. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS (cont.)

AT INTERPERSONAL LEVEL

• Emergence of community based initiatives (personal, community, faiths etc.)

• -Reconciliation clubs in schools, reconciliation associations• -A network of 3720 community volunteers of unity

and reconciliation.• Perpetrator confession, forgiveness from

Survivors and reconciliation.

NURC 11

V. EVALUATION AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF NURC.

Evaluation and impact assessment are done regularly for ;

a) Identification of best practices and subsequent replication.

b) Assess impact, set benchmarks and re-adjustment of methods + indicators

c) Establish strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

NURC 12

VI. KEY LESSONS FROM THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NURC

• Reconciliation work is a cross-cutting process and partnership with all stakeholders is essential

• Political will is key to success • Each region in Rwanda has had unique challenges

that need unique approach to reconciliation,• Mainstreaming reconciliation in everyday activities is

necessary.• Orienting operational program objectives to specific

regional challenges,• It is essential to empower stakeholders and entrust

them with reconciliation work.

NURC 13

VII. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS :

• -Training and capacity building

• -Community empowerment

• -Leadership Academy with a comprehensive documentation centre,

• -Bottom up Approaches,

• -Decentralise the NURC

• -Establish early warning and timely conflict prevention systems

NURC 14

VIII. NURC and the EDPRS

• NURC operates in the Justice, Reconciliation, Law and Order sector working Group.

• Purpose of the Sector: -Good governance promoted strengthened and enhanced• Outputs : -Universal access to Justice -Eradicating genocide ideology and building the culture of

the Rule of Law -Transparency in decision making -Reinforce mediation, unity and reconciliation mechanisms in conflict resolution -Safety &security maintained & enhanced

NURC 15

VIII. NURC and the EDPRS• NURC finished the self evaluation exercise• We have also participated in the development of

the SWG Log Frame• Specifically, output four of the sector captures

the work of NURC• Now in the costing exercise• More importantly, with the help of MINECOFIN

and some development partners, a study is being done on how unity and reconciliation can be mainstreamed in the EDPRS.

NURC 16

IX. CONCLUSION

The uniqueness of the NURC lies in a number of factors:

• Rwanda’s history is unique and requires unique problem solving mechanisms.

• Rwanda has had a protracted divisive system which require protracted remedial system.

• Rwanda’s conflict involves Rwandans, hence reconciliation approaches must be home grown and an onus of every Rwandan.

NURC 17

X. FUTURE STRATEGIES

• Intensive research on post genocide community dynamics

• Focus on the youth for creation of a new united generation.

• Strong grip on servant leadership approach and good governance practices.

THANK YOU