The Ministry of Justice, in partnership with the National Commission for Human Rights and the Legal Aid Forum (LAF), convened a stakeholder validation workshop for Rwanda’s Second National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP II), covering the period 2026/27–2030/31.

The workshop, held on 30 October, brought together representatives of government institutions, civil society organisations, the private sector, development partners, academia, faith-based organisations and the media to review and validate the Plan.

In her keynote address, the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General, Umuzayire Burayobera Bibiane, highlighted the importance of the Plan in providing a common framework for coordinated action, with clearly defined responsibilities and measurable targets to guide implementation and assess progress.

He noted that the second Plan builds on the achievements and lessons of the first National Human Rights Action Plan while expanding its scope to give dedicated attention to business and human rights, human trafficking and climate change. These areas require coordinated responses across institutions and sectors because of their implications for people's dignity, safety and livelihoods.

The Plan is aligned with the Constitution of Rwanda, Vision 2050 and the Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), reinforcing the integration of human dignity, equality and inclusion into the country's development agenda. It also provides an opportunity to strengthen coordination in following up on recommendations from Rwanda's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and human rights treaty bodies.

The Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General emphasized that Rwanda's commitment to human rights is rooted in its history, particularly the lessons of discrimination, exclusion and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This history, the address noted, places a responsibility on all institutions to protect the dignity of every person, confront discrimination and ensure equal protection and opportunities for all.

The address further stressed that the success of the Plan will be measured by its impact on people's lives, particularly those in vulnerable situations, through improved access to essential services, protection against violence and exploitation, effective remedies for human rights violations and meaningful participation in decisions that affect them.

Stakeholders were encouraged to ensure that the validation process produces an Action Plan that responds to people's needs, assigns clear institutional responsibilities and establishes a sound basis for monitoring results.

"National ownership must become institutional responsibility, and institutional responsibility must translate into improvements in people's lives," the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General emphasised.