The Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD) has launched a two-day consultative meeting and capacity-building sessions for members of the Justice, Reconciliation, Law, and Order Sector (JRLOS) District Bureau. The training is being conducted in two cohorts, each attended by 45 JRLOS District Bureau members, including but not limited to MAJ Coordinators, Prosecutors, and members of Civil Society Organizations.

The first cohort is being held from April 1 to April 2, 2025, while the second cohort will take place from April 3 to April 4, 2025. Participants will engage in discussions on the current functionality of JRLOS District Committees and propose areas of improvement to further develop the justice sector.

Opening the meeting, Anatholie Mukabatsinda, Acting Director General/ JRLOS Coordinator, emphasized the importance of collaboration among JRLOS District Committees in implementing the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Policy and the Criminal Justice Policy.

Mukabatsinda stated, “There are two policies: ADR and the Criminal Justice Policy. We seek your collaboration in their implementation. MAJ staff, Civil Society Organizations, and the Prosecution are all key stakeholders in ensuring their success.”

She further added, “By the end of these two days, we expect to have a plan of activities for the remaining months of this fiscal year, as well as for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, to effectively implement these policies.”

Viateur Bangayandusha, Academic Dean at ILPD, highlighted the significance of this meeting as an opportunity to address the issue of heavy case workloads in courts.

“The Rwandan Government has embarked on the implementation of the ADR Policy and the Criminal Justice Policy, both adopted in September 2022. As ILPD, we see this workshop on the functioning of the justice sector at the district level and the capacity-building of those responsible for delivering justice as an opportunity to find solutions to the problem of excessive case backlogs in courts,” said Bangayandusha.

This initiative underscores the Ministry of Justice’s commitment to strengthening the justice sector and enhancing the efficiency of JRLOS District Committees at the district level.