Ligue rwandaise pour la promotion et la défense des droits de l'homme (LIPRODHOR)
Development and Peace has been supporting LIPRODHOR, which actively promotes and defends human rights through civic education and monitoring activities, since 1995.
The significance of LIPRODHOR’s work took on new meaning in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, when thousands of innocent individuals were arrested. The organization has been closely monitoring the trials related to the 1994 massacre and thanks to its unwavering commitment to human rights many innocent Rwandans have regained their freedom from unjustified sentences and convictions. Many wrongful death penalty convictions have also been avoided. In 2002, Aloys Habimana, an active LIPRODHOR member, received an award from Human Rights Watch for his remarkable work in favour of fair judicial proceedings.
LIPRODHOR also organizes training sessions, workshops, seminars, debates and theatre performances throughout the country. In 2000, it established a program to raise awareness amongst government bodies on human rights. It also publishes a monthly newsletter about the situation of human rights in Rwanda.
In addition, the League works on complaints about human rights violations. When it receives a complaint, it launches an investigation and from that can draw up a public denunciation, if needed. The League is also known for its public pronouncements on issues of public interest, such as the death penalty. It has published many studies on prison conditions in Rwanda. Noteworthy in this regard is LIPRODHOR’s participation in the establishment of a data base about the prison situation in Rwanda which was carried out jointly with United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
