Source: (2010) African Journal of International and Comparative Law 18.1
Following the 1994 genocide, several justice initiatives were implemented in Rwanda, including
a tribunal established by the United Nations, Rwanda’s national court system and Gacaca, a
‘traditional’ community-run conflict resolution mechanism adapted to prosecute genocide
perpetrators. Since their inception in 2001, the Gacaca courts have been praised for their
efficiency and for widening participation but criticized for lack of due process, trained personnel
and attention to atrocities committed by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). To evaluate these
criticisms, we present preliminary findings from a survey of 227 Rwandans and analyze their
attitudes towards Gacaca in relation to demographic characteristics such as education, residence
and loss of relatives during the genocide. (excerpt)
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