The right to compensation for victims of internal armed conflicts in east Africa: a case study of genocide victims in Rwanda
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Date
2014
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Publisher
Unversity of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This thesis examines the right to compensation that victims of internal armed conflicts have or ought to have for the harm suffered during conflicts. The study focuses on the conflicts in East Africa, particularly the Rwandan Tutsi genocide. Two research techniques being, library review and field research, were employed for gathering relevant data for the research study. Documentary review included international instruments, national legislation, books, reports, papers, articles and cases adjudicated in courts at international and national levels. Methods employed in field research were interviews and discussions with various experts in the area of reparation and victimology. This research study has revealed that victims of armed conflict have a right to be compensated for the harm suffered during conflicts. This right has been asserted in various international and national legal instruments. However, in practice, it has been very difficult for victims to obtain compensation. Victims of the Rwandan Tutsi genocide in particular have not yet received any compensation. Some of them have tried to obtain compensation through court process, but have not been able to execute the court judgment due to a number of reasons, such as, perpetrators being indigent. The government of Rwanda is in a process of setting up a Compensation Fund, but it is not certain as to when the said fund shall start to function. This study recommends that specific laws at international and national levels should be enacted to facilitate victims to easily obtain compensation. Rwanda should remove all the legal impediments obstructing victims from obtaining compensation. The international community should assist Rwanda in the process of compensating victims.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF HV8688.A353M66)
Keywords
Civil war, Genocide, Reparation, Africa, East, Rwanda
Citation
Mongella, L. M. (2014) The right to compensation for victims of internal armed conflicts in east Africa: a case study of genocide victims in Rwanda, Masters’ dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam