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Transcript/ScriptRWANDA HUMAN RIGHTS TRAINING (TV/R)
HEADLINE: Civil society groups train more youth as human rights advocates in Rwanda
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 04/29/2024, 8:30p
BYLINE: Senanu Tord
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Kigali, Rwanda.
VIDEOGRAPHER: Senanu Tord
VIDEO EDITOR:
ASSIGNING EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: pcd, SB, sv okay
VIDEO SOURCE: VOA Original
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X RADIO X
TRT: 3:36
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG/RADIO
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[Human Rights Watch has released crucial archives from the 1994 genocide against
Tutsis in Rwanda, revealing ignored warnings that could have saved lives. These
warnings by rights defenders highlight their vital role in safeguarding communities.
Thirty years on, civil society groups are intensifying efforts by training more youth
advocates to ensure post-genocide in Rwanda. Senanu Tord reports from Kigali,
Rwanda.]]
((NARRATOR))
At the Kagugu Catholic schools in Kigali, Pascal Sezerano checks on the progress of
some children he helped get back into the classroom. He says many resorted to the
streets because of neglect.
((Pascal Sezerano - Youth Advocate)) ((Kinyarwanda, 12 secs))
“We have been able to put 76 street kids back into school between January and April
this year and the number will keep increasing. We are committed to keeping children in
schools and will continue to push them.”
((NARRATOR))
Through advocacy, Sezerano successfully pushed for a policy that bans children from
being on the streets during school hours.
He was trained as a youth advocate by a civil society organization in Rwanda called
“Citizen Rights and Development.” The program teaches young people about human
rights, like education and health, and provides routine training on new policies.
The organization says it has about 5,000 youth volunteers across the country.
[[FOR RADIO: Fred Musiime is the executive director of Citizen Rights and
Development.]]
((Fred Musiime - Citizen Rights and Development)) ((English, 13 secs))
“So, what they do is to work with the constituency and identify human rights issues, and
then they advocate on these issues in collaboration with representatives of the
constituency”
((NARRATOR))
Experts say Africa has significant human rights gaps, including access to basic
services, but advocates like Sezerano are bridging these gaps through advocacy.
Another important role of defenders is preventing mass atrocities, according to the
advocacy group Human Rights Watch.
The group says failure to heed warnings from defenders in the early 1990s led to the
1994 genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda. In 100 days, Hutu extremists massacred
nearly a million minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
Thirty years on, advocates have championed policies that have shaped the nation, but
some remain threatened, according to the group’s Lewis Mudge.
((Lewis Mudge - Human Rights Watch)) ((English, 20 Secs)) ((Via Zoom))
“We are in a Rwanda that has made economic progress. We are in a Rwanda that has
made, in many aspects, real progress in terms of health and in terms of education. But
unfortunately, that progress has not been matched in terms of human rights. We are in
a Rwanda where civil and political rights are very much constrained”
((NARRATOR))
Musiime says Rwanda has adopted an advocacy method that works for everyone.
((Fred Musiime - Citizen Rights and Development))((English, 15 secs))
“We don't believe in confrontational advocacy approaches where people think that
organizing violent demonstrations, standing too much against the government, that will
bring change. No, it doesn't”
((NARRATOR))
Instead, on Tuesdays, advocates, policymakers, and community members hold
meetings where they raise issues and propose solutions. Musiime says this approach
gives every household a voice and holds community leaders accountable.
Mudge commends these efforts but says more can be done.
((Lewis Mudge - Human Rights Watch)) ((English, 19 Secs)) ((Via Zoom))
“I appreciate that they are taking a traditional view of things, and I acknowledge that in
some capacity, that can affect some degree of respect for rights. But let's face the facts
for what they are. They are taking that constrained approach because of the system in
Rwanda that doesn't allow for a broader approach"
((NARRATOR))
But Musiime says the community-level conversations are making a difference.
((Fred Musiime - Citizen Rights and Development))((English, 9 secs))
“I will say where we are now is actually the best.// We meet, we share policy issues, we
share recommendations and findings, and then we see things changing”
((NARRATOR))
Human rights groups say they will continue to adopt community-based advocacy and
train more youth to defend and safeguard a genocide-free Rwanda.
((Senanu Tord, VOA news, Kigali))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateApril 29, 2024 20:42 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
