Executive Mode Students Intake 9 at the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD), all practicing lawyers, pledged to provide specialized support to victims of sexual violence. This commitment was made during a training session on January 10, 2025, facilitated by the Rwanda National Police.

The session, led by a Police Commissioner with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), focused on protecting victims and emphasized effective evidence gathering. Students identified gaps in legal processes that hinder victims from accessing justice and vowed to address them.

Abel Asiimwe, a lawyer at Trust Law Chambers, acknowledged that conventional legal approaches sometimes unintentionally harm victims. “Today, we learned that visible injuries are not always present in cases of sexual violence. Traditional methods of evidence collection often discourage victims due to their invasive nature,” he said. 

Taima Lydia Munganyinka, a lawyer with Certa Foundation, highlighted challenges in implementing laws on sexual violence. She emphasized the need for training across sectors, stating, “Judges and other stakeholders may unintentionally re-victimize complainants during proceedings. This discourages victims from seeking justice.”

Munganyinka also pledged to integrate the training’s insights into ongoing research and stakeholder training in the eight districts where her organization operates.

Viateur Bangayandusha, ILPD’s Academic Dean, expressed confidence in the training’s impact. “Our students are decision-makers in government institutions. Learning from an experienced investigator equips them with practical skills and solutions to challenges they encounter professionally,” he noted.

The training reaffirmed ILPD’s commitment to bridging gaps in the justice system and ensuring victims of sexual violence are supported effectively.