The Justice, Reconciliation Law and Order Sector - JRLOS 8th Peer Review Retreat kicked off this Thursday the 25th April 2019 at EPIC Hotel - Nyagatare under the theme: “Good Governance and Justice: Let us increase the Citizen’s Participation for a Better Justice Service Delivery”. The annual Peer Review Retreat brings together Government institutions, Development Partners, Private Sector and CSOs working in Justice, Reconciliation, Law and Order related issues.  

For the 8^th time, participants assess institutional achievements, challenges and set up strategies to address challenges and to ensure citizens’ participation in justice service delivery. In addition, participants asses the status of implementing the resolutions from last Peer Review Retreat.

The 8^th JRLOS Peer Review Retreat was officially opened by Honorable the Chief Justice who emphasised that the Peer Review Retreat is an opportunity of sharing  experiences, celebrating successes, identifying problems, challenges and finding solutions. “This regular interaction for JRLOS members and partners helps us to tackle issues together, to share challenges, to share resources, to share systems like Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS), Sobanuza Inkiko among others” He added.

The Chief Justice further said that cooperation is the only way to achieve the Sector common goal which is: better service to the community and socio-economic upliftment of the citizen whom we serve. He requested participants to provide needed information to citizens so that we can continue to increase their trust towards justice system and ensure their participation in service delivery.

The Chief Justice appreciated the fact that Justice Sector is continuously getting new institutions like Rwanda Investigation Bureau and Rwanda Forensic Laboratory as it improves the quality of court evidences. He concluded his speech by requesting all JRLOS institutions to improve the quality of services delivered as justice delivery is a chain and cannot be delivered by a single institution.  “We all have to work on improving our working methods and quality of work and help to weed out those not performing to the standards” Chief justice emphasised.

While addressing the participants, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General Busingye Johnston applauded Sector achievements since the last Peer Review Retreat and thanked Sector partners who contributed towards the implementation of institutional action plans and various resolutions. He took the opportunity to request participants of the 8^th Peer Review Retreat to set up strategies aiming at improving justice service delivery which is the essence of the 8^th Peer Review Retreat theme. “This Peer Review Retreat offers to all of us the opportunity to once again align more specific strategies that can improve the justice service delivery. We discuss ways to streamline collaboration and coordination mechanisms between Justice Sector institutions and Local Governments, to ensure citizens’ participation in justice service delivery” Minister Busingye emphasised.

Click here to read the full speech by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General while opening the JRLOS 8th Peer Review Retreat.