The Spokesperson for the Judiciary of Rwanda, Harrison Mutabazi, has announced that just ten months after its introduction to Rwandan courts, the Alternative Disputes Resolution Policy has already yielded significant results. He projected that by the end of the current judicial year; approximately 4,000 cases will have been resolved through mediation approach.

Mutabazi also highlighted the Plea Bargaining, an initiative that has been active within the judiciary for more than four years, allowing for negotiated agreements between prosecutors and accused individuals who admit guilt. This policy has similarly seen great success, with more than 36,000 cases concluded to date.

He made these remarks previously during the closing ceremony of a training programme for judges at the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD). The training aimed to strengthen and streamline the effective implementation of both policies.

A Unified Approach to Justice

Mutabazi explained that while both frameworks have produced tangible outcomes, their implementation has not yet reached its full potential. The training was organized to ensure that justice sector actors adopt a unified approach, thereby improving the consistency and overall effectiveness of the two policies.

"This training has come at the right time because we are already implementing these policies, but we have not yet reached the level we aspire to; this is an ongoing journey," Mutabazi said. "We consider the participants in this training to be agents of change who will help the courts implement these policies more effectively."

He further noted that the Judiciary closely monitors the application of both policies through daily, weekly, and monthly reports submitted by courts nationwide. These reports enable the leadership to assess progress, ensure consistency, and proactively address any implementation bottlenecks.

Overcoming Practical Challenges

Judge Meshack Rurangwa of the Ngoma Intermediate Court, a participant in the training, emphasized that one of the key benefits was establishing a uniform standard for handling cases, with the ultimate goal of promoting peace and harmony within Rwandan communities.

"We came together to ensure that we handle these matters consistently because inconsistency had been one of our greatest challenges," Judge Rurangwa noted. "For example, prosecutors would sometimes approve plea agreements without thoroughly reviewing them beforehand. Going forward, we must pay close attention to this so these processes are carried out uniformly."

The training session marks the fifth cohort organized by the ILPD in partnership with iPeace. Previous iterations have brought together a wide range of legal professionals, including lawyers, prosecutors, investigators, and judges from across the country. By the conclusion of the current programme, more than 500 legal practitioners will have been trained on the implementation of the Restorative Justice and Plea Bargaining policies.