News Details

I. Background

Rwanda has made efforts to improve access to justice through enactment of various policies such as the National Legal Aid Policy, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Policy, and the Criminal Justice Policy. On March 20th, 2025, the Legal Aid Forum (LAF) convened key stakeholders from the justice sector to take stock and appreciate progress made, deliberate on challenges, and develop actionable solutions to enhance access to justice for all, especially vulnerable populations. The dialogue brought together representatives from government institutions, legal aid providers, civil society organizations, legal practitioners, and other relevant stakeholders.

The dialogue featured presentations and panel discussions focused on the impact of the 2014 National Legal Aid Policy, the role of pro bono services, and civil society contribution to advancing access to justice. Participants engaged actively in discussions on these topics. Stakeholders identified key barriers to effective access to justice and legal aid services in Rwanda as follows:

1. Lack of Specific Legislation Governing Legal Aid: There is no comprehensive legislation explicitly governing legal aid services, leading to inconsistency across regions and institutions.
2. Limited Legal Aid Coverage: Services are predominantly concentrated in urban centers, leaving rural populations underserved.
3. Lack of Awareness of Legal Rights: Many individuals are unaware of their rights or legal aid services, preventing them from seeking assistance.
4. Insufficient and Unsustainable Funding: Heavy reliance on donor funding and limited government resources hinder service delivery.
5. Recognition and Integration of Paralegals: Paralegals are critical but not formally recognized or integrated into the legal system.
6. Inadequate Coordination and Quality Control Mechanisms: Fragmentation among stakeholders leads to inconsistent service delivery.
7. Long Travel Distance to Legal Aid Providers: Rural populations face financial and logistical burdens to access services.
8. Inadequate Implementation of Existing Policies: Lack of coordination and resources hinders effective policy execution.
9. Limited Capacity and Training of Legal Aid Providers: Insufficient training and resources reduce the effectiveness of support, especially for GBV survivors and persons with disabilities.
10. Inadequate Availability and Quality of Safe Spaces: Limited and substandard facilities affect vulnerable populations seeking legal aid.
11. Barriers for People With Disabilities: Lack of sign language interpreters restricts access for the deaf community.
12. Limited Engagement of the Private Sector: Underutilized CSR initiatives restrict growth and sustainability of legal aid organizations.
13. Community Resistance to ADR: Some communities resist alternative dispute resolution due to lack of awareness and understanding.

II. Recommendations

After extensive discussions, the following recommendations were formulated to address key challenges and improve access to justice for vulnerable populations:

1. Legal Framework and Policy Reforms
   • Enact comprehensive legal aid legislation defining rights and responsibilities.
   • Review and strengthen the National Legal Aid Policy and harmonize related policies.
   • Formally recognize and integrate paralegals within the legal framework.
2. Expanding Access to Legal Aid Services
   • Ensure nationwide availability, especially in rural and remote areas, through mobile units and regional offices.
   • Develop a national strategy to digitize legal aid services for online accessibility.
3. Capacity Building, Resource Optimization, and Inclusive Legal Aid
   • Engage the private sector to support legal aid initiatives and public-private partnerships.
   • Ensure legal aid accessibility for persons with disabilities and safe spaces for GBV survivors.
   • Scale up capacity-building initiatives for legal professionals, including trauma-informed training.
   • Optimize resources to focus on high-impact areas like GBV cases and services for vulnerable populations.
4. Establish a Sustainable and Diversified Funding Model
   • Create a national legal aid fund supported by public budgets and private sector contributions.
   • Encourage NGOs to explore alternative funding sources to reduce reliance on unpredictable donor support.
5. Community Engagement and Legal Awareness
   • Launch campaigns to raise awareness of legal rights and legal aid services.
   • Promote ADR mechanisms through public education and community outreach.
6. Strengthening Partnerships and Collaboration
   • Enhance partnerships between government institutions and civil society organizations to extend reach and advocate for marginalized groups.
7. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Implementation
   • Implement a robust M&E system to assess the impact of legal aid programs.
   • The Ministry of Justice (MINUJUST) should lead effective implementation and ensure regular monitoring.