Responsibilities:

The Ministry of Justice/Office of the Attorney General has the following responsibilities:

1. To develop, disseminate and coordinate the implementation of policies, strategies and programmes, through:

• Conception, elaboration and dissemination of national policies, strategies, laws and programmes to promote the rule of law, law enforcement and justice for all;
• Promotion of support mechanisms to the community programmes to enhance education of the population about laws and human rights and to promote access to justice;

2. To organize and coordinate national legislation, through:

• Elaboration of measures governing the administration of justice and the compliance with the Constitution;
• Putting in place measures aimed at improving legal drafting and harmonization of national laws and regulations with the international laws signed, acceded to or ratified by Rwanda;

3. To provide legal advice and to represent the Government and its institutions, through:

• Acting as Government technical adviser by providing advices to Government and its institutions on legal matters;
• Representing the Government in disputes of any kind to which it is party at the national and international levels;

4. To ensure the institutional capacity development of the Justice Sector to improve its organisation and functioning;

5. To monitor and evaluate the implementation of policies, strategies and programmes of Justice Sector and allied entities, through:

• Establishment of indicators and their exploitation to monitor and evaluate the impact of the Justice Sector policies, strategies and programmes on the development justice and access to justice;
• Consolidation of data provided by the Justice Sector and decentralized institutions on justice matters;
• Submission of periodical and annual reports to the Government on the impact of the policies, strategies, programmes and projects on the rule of law in Rwanda;
• Mobilisation of necessary resources for the development of the Justice Sector and related programmes;

6. To formulate policies, regulations, strategies and programmes aimed at prevention of committing offences and fight recidivism;

7. To prepare strategic plan for skills development and competencies;

8. To publish laws and regulations in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda;

9. To determine the advertisement rate for documents to be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda.

Justice, Reconciliation, Law & Order Sector (JRLOS)

The Justice, Reconciliation, Law & Order Sector is a coordination structure which enables institutions in the Sector to work together effectively towards common objectives, without compromising their operational, legal or constitutional independence.

Objectives

• High level policy coordination and effective prioritisation so that the Justice Sector reform policy is discussed, agreed and communicated to all stakeholders and that scarce resources are used efficiently by prioritising them across the sector; 

• Establishment of transparent, clear and accountable mechanisms for oversight, direction and implementation of the Sector Strategy.

General mission

The general mission of the Justice Sector shall be to strengthen the rule of law to promote good governance and a culture of peace.

Specific mission

• To ensure universal access to quality Justice; 
• To ensure that the rule of law, accountability and human rights are promoted; 
• To ensure that law and order are maintained and enhanced.

Members of the Justice Sector

The membership of the Justice Sector at the national level shall be composed of the following public organs:

• The Judiciary
• The Ministry of Justice
• The Ministry of Internal Security
• The Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement
• The Rwanda National Police
• The Rwanda Investigation Bureau
• The National Public Prosecution Authority
• The Office of the Ombudsman
• The Military courts
• The Military Prosecution
• The National Commission for Human Rights
• The Rwanda Correctional Services
• The Institute of Legal Practice and Development
• Rwanda Forensic Institute
• Rwanda Law Reform Commission

The Leadership Group may decide on additional members or the withdrawal of members if deemed necessary.

Partner Organisations

• The Bar Association
• The professional Bailiffs Body 
• Other local and international Civil Society Organisations actively involved in the Justice Sector.

The Justice Sector Coordination Secretariat:

The Justice Sector Coordination Secretariat is established and placed under the administrative authority of the Ministry in charge of justice. The Justice Sector secretariat shall report directly to the Accounting Officer responsible for the implementation of the Justice Sector Strategy.

Thematic Working Groups:

The Justice Sector Thematic Working Groups are composed of technicians from the Justice Sector institutions and representatives of Civil society organisations, the private sector and development partners. These Thematic Working Groups are following:

1. Resource Allocation and Expenditures
2. Planning, monitoring and evaluation
3. Information, Communication and Technology
4. Access to Justice
5. Reconciliation, Law and Public Security

Click here to download the Prime Minister's order No 123/03 of 13/10/2010 establishing the Justice Sector and determining its mandate, structure and functions