This mid- term assessment report was prepared and submitted by Rwanda Civil Society Coalition on UPR that LAF is a member, to the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2018. The assessment focused on the implementation of recommendations made to Rwanda during the second review on 4th November 2015 since Rwanda’s human rights record had been reviewed twice under the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, the first review being in 2011 and the second in 2015.

UPR is a unique and most comprehensive mechanism that assesses state performances on Human Rights ranging from Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural rights. Out of the 229 recommendations that were given to Rwanda, 50 enjoyed its support, while 103 enjoyed the support of Rwanda but Rwanda considered some of them to have been implemented or in the process of being implemented and 75 did not enjoy the support of Rwanda.

This report therefore is a product of information and data gathered by Coalition members from responsible Government institutions as indicated in the roadmap for UPR implementation, interviews with civil society organizations and literature review from various institutional and country reports. In terms of scope, the assessment primarily focused on the accomplishments realized from January 2016 to December 2017. This report concentrates on more general issues that underpin Human Rights in Rwanda in accordance with recommendations that had been given to Rwanda in 2015.