Students from Pepperdine University in California, USA, visited the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD) in Rwanda and expressed admiration for the country’s justice system, which prioritizes reconciliation over punishment. They pledged to share the lessons they learned with their communities back home.

Their remarks came at the conclusion of their visit to ILPD’s main campus in Nyanza District on June 10, 2025.

During a briefing with the Rector of ILPD, Dr. Aimé Muyoboke Karimunda, the students were introduced to the uniqueness of Rwanda’s justice system, which focuses more on restoring harmony than enforcing punitive measures.

Dr. Karimunda cited the example of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, who were tried through the Gacaca courts and later reintegrated into society through a process of forgiveness and reconciliation. This was implemented at a time when Rwanda’s justice system had been severely weakened—both before and after the genocide—due to corruption, impunity, and the loss of judicial personnel, many of whom had been killed or had fled.

He emphasized that the Gacaca courts were a restorative justice mechanism that helped fight impunity at a time when the formal court system would not have been able to process the immense number of genocide-related cases in a timely manner.

“The Rwanda we have today is a product of Gacaca, which brought unity and justice to the nation,” he added.

Dr. Karimunda also reminded the students that Rwanda is still in the process of rebuilding and emphasized that ILPD plays a critical role in this journey by training and developing professional legal practitioners across the country.

Professor Seth Bambourg from Pepperdine University said he was deeply moved by Rwanda’s justice system, describing it as one grounded in humanity rather than retribution, and calling it a powerful lesson.

“The Rwandan approach to justice touched me,” he said. “It saddened me to reflect on how, in the U.S., our justice system often focuses on individual rights and isolation, whereas Rwanda has a justice system that restores relationships between those who were in conflict.”

He criticized the tendency in the U.S. to prioritize personal rights and interests in court at the expense of reconciliation, something he believes is essential for healing and rebuilding relationships.

Karissa Rosas, a student at Pepperdine, said she came to better understand that justice also means forgiveness and reconciliation.

“What I loved about Rwanda’s justice system is how it brings people back together in the community. That’s how genocide perpetrators were able to return to their communities,” she noted.

She went on to say that this kind of justice is what the world needs to foster unity and cooperation, and she committed to sharing this perspective with others back home.

As part of their visit, the students also toured historical sites related to the Rwandan monarchy in Nyanza District. They were introduced to ILPD’s operations and its role in strengthening Rwanda’s legal system.