From 23 to 25 February, IBJ staff went to Rumonge, a city in the south of the country, to conduct two activities. For the first time indeed, both a street law campaign and a round table were conducted at the same time, thanks to the invaluable help of six volunteers recruited by the local APRODH office. While the rural population was educated about its legal rights, stakeholders of the penal system gathered to find solutions to the difficulties of pre-trial detention. This issue remains a crucial challenge for the Burundian State in order to promote the rule of law, as more than 63% of Burundian detainees are awaiting trial as of the 31st of January 2010.

Above: IBJ Fellow Astère Muyango briefing volunteers who were to conduct the awareness campaign while IBJ staff would organize the round table. Photo: Caroline Arnaud

IBJ warmly thanks all the attendees for their participation. In addition to four lawyers who kindly traveled from Bujumbura, many members of Bururi and Makamba jurisdictions were present, such as the president of the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Bururi, the director of the Rumonge prison, and the Procureur de la République of Bururi. At the end, there were more than 25 people who tried to solve the delicate problem of pre-trial detention. After having indentified the challenges to an efficient penal system, the participants considered the possible causes of these dysfunctions.

Above: All the stakeholders of Bururi and Makamba provinces’ legal system gathered to find solutions to the issue of the pre-trial detention. Photo: Caroline Arnaud

They showed a real commitment to denounce the obstacles they encountered, identifying, throughout open discussions, what is not working. A new problem was pointed out: several police officers and members of the administration try to leverage a loophole in the law to arrest people for an offense which is not forbidden by the penal code. Indeed, many people are arrested for “consumption of prohibited alcohol”, while this alcohol, although dangerous, is not forbidden by the Burundian Penal procedure code. The aim of these illegal arrests is quite clear-cut: policemen do not release detainees unless they pay a semi-official bail. The participants strongly condemned this too recurrent practice and let themselves in for trying to make its consumption officially out-of-law. They moreover committed to several other concrete engagements, such as meeting each other on a regular basis, as a dialogue platform in which everyone express his difficulties is definitely lacking. Each participant made real commitments to improve the legal system within their capacity. Lawyers even proposed to offer pro-bono legal assistance to pre-trial detainees of the Bururi and Makamba provinces. IBJ acclaims this exemplary commitment.

These three-day events ended with everyone being willing to make change happen, for what IBJ expresses its profound gratitude.

Above: Divided in different groups according to their function, participants discussed about what they could do in order to improve the legal system in Bururi and Makamba province. Here lawyers discussing. Photo: Caroline Arnaud

On 9th December 2009, IBJ co-organised a fifth roundtable with APRODH in the province of Cibitoke. The aim was to gather members of the Burundi judicial system- whether lawyers, prison officials, police officers, prosecutors and judges- to discuss the issue of juvenile criminal justice. APRODH’s help was once more invaluable, since it contributed to prepare the event in Cibitoke province, sending invitations to the relevant members of the local justice system.

Above: Senior councillor of Cibitoke province governor, post officer of Mpimba prison, and IBJ Fellow Astère Muyango. Photo: courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Bouzard.

As of the 15th November 2009, a total of 461 juveniles are incarcerated in the 11 detention centres across the country. Among them, more than two thirds are still waiting for their trial. Further, juvenile criminality tends to increase.

This roundtable was thus an opportunity to discuss about this disquieting situation, firstly by identifying its deep causes. However, the main goal of the meeting was to bring members of the justice system together to find out appropriate solutions to the lack of proper juvenile criminal justice system in Burundi. To reach this objective, participants were divided in different groups according to their occupation. This enabled each member of each group to feel concerned about the issue and urged to commit himself, at his own level and within his capacity. Consequently, dialogs concluded with concrete suggestions aiming at ameliorating procedures involving children, finding alternative sanctions to imprisonment, and lastly improving children’s lives while imprisoned.

Above: Astère Summarizing work groups’ suggestions. Photo: courtesy of Claire Habimana.

Beside, copies of the new Penal Code and the Legal Defense Manual were distributed to participants. This manual was prepared by the attorney Mehdi Benbouzid with a view to build the capacity of Burundian lawyers to provide quality and committed counsel to clients. The discussions were an opportunity to point out that Burundi had ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which therefore ought to be enforced in the country. IBJ’s lawyer Herman Ndayishimiye brought some copies of the main articles of the Convention to remind the actors of the justice system of the Government’s obligations in terms of the administration of juvenile justice.

The outcome of this roundtable is truly encouraging. IBJ expected concrete commitments of participants, and the goal was reached. In a friendly atmosphere, each participant was urged to feel part of the Cibitoke justice system and ready to make his best to improve it.

Above: all participants gathered to make evolve minors’ judicial system. Photo: courtesy of Dieudonné Ndayishimiye.

On 26th and 27th January, IBJ Burundi organised a street law campaign in Kabezi, a commune located in the province of Bujumbura rural, 20 kilometres southwards of the capital. This campaign was already well-rehearsed, since it was the seventh awareness campaign brought into play by IBJ. IBJ team cooperated with its partner APRODH, which provided six volunteers, who conducted the campaign with IBJ and APRODH staffs, and indicated us frequented places.

Above: volunteers conducting the campaign. Photo: Caroline Arnaud

Kabezi administrator’s cooperation was also valuable as this activity could not have been conducted this campaign without his keen authorization. He further proved to be enthusiastic regarding IBJ’s mission and activities, asking for a copy of the new Penal Code, which he still hadn’t acquired since April 2009 when the new Penal Code got enacted.

Above: IBJ fellow Astère Muyango handing out the Penal Code to the Administrator of Kabezi. Photo: Caroline Arnaud

Here again, the aim was to explain basic legal rights to rural populations, including the right to access a lawyer should they be arrested. Too many people still think that if they cannot afford an attorney, they are condemned to self-representation. However, the population of Kabezi displayed a real interest in being educated, asking questions and assiduously listening to the answers. At the end, more than 150 people were individually interviewed, and nearly 1400 were sensitized. Even armed forces turned out to show a great interest in the rights of the accused: soldiers spontaneously joined the crowd, and some of them even asked to be trained on their legal rights.

Above: Astère Muyango interviewing a soldier. Photo: Caroline Arnaud

The change in this campaign was the environment where it took place. Kabezi has the characteristic to be really widespread, because the commune includes several hills. In this extent, the campaign was conducted on a 16-kilometre long territory, with groups of interviewers disseminated in little hamlets in the hills, and moving from places to places. This mobility enabled to access and educate more people, and to increase IBJ’s visibility on a larger land than if we had stayed on the same place.

The campaign ended with an enjoyable feeling of success. Rural people are indisputably concerned about their rights and its implementation. More significantly, they asked for cards - in Kirundi language - where the legal procedures about pre-trial detention are outlined. Thus, 190 cards and 60 posters where disseminated all over the territory of Kabezi. The campaign is still going on today, as posters and cards are circulating from neighbourhoods to neighbourhoods across the area.

Above: rural population getting educated concerning their legal rights. Photo: Caroline Arnaud

Each 10th December, the international community celebrates the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. International Bridges to Justice Burundi took part to this very special day, organizing a legal rights awareness campaign in Cibitoke, a province in the North-West of Burundi, near the Congolese and Rwandese borders.

Above: Rural populations gather around the IBJ team to get aware of the provisions of the newly revised penal code in case of arrest. Photo: courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Bouzard. 

 This campaign was a resounding success, thanks to the noteworthy support of our partner APRODH, which had recruited several local volunteers who generously helped IBJ staff. Local authorities expressed their support to this legal education initiative, and also contributed to the awareness-raising effort. In this extent, posters outlining people’ rights at time of arrest were displayed in several public places, such as the prosecutor’s office, the courthouse and other Cibitoke public offices.

Above : IBJ Fellow Astère Muyango explaining Human rights to a Burundian man, under the gaze of curious children. Photo: courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Bouzard.

Thanks to this precious help, the day ended with a lot of hope. Rural populations, often more vulnerable to abuses than populations in Bujumbura, were engaged about their legal rights at that time of arrest. IBJ team split in stands across the town to reach out to a maximum number of people. Banners which read “Liberty is the rule, arrest and detention is the exception” in Kirundi where displayed at strategic locations. Short questionnaires were handed out to people, which enabled to measure the level of the population’s knowledge regarding its basic legal rights. Then, people attracting people, many citizens spontaneously joined the group surrounding IBJ team, curious to to found out what the campaign was all about and to learn new things. Overall, 120 people were interviewed, and the number of people sensitized about their rights is estimated to be up to 577. Besides, little cards and posters, written in Kirundi, were distributed. The campaign clearly answered a curiosity that had remained unmet until now: rural populations left IBJ team with copies of the poster that they promised to distribute within their neighborhoods and communities.

Above: The hope of a new generation which has the skill to assert its rights. Photo: courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Bouzard.

IBJ is pleased to announce its renewed partnership with APRODH (Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons). This is an encouraging sign as it signals the start of the movement to prevent torture and effectively implement progressive and fair criminal legislation in Burundi. This agreement recognizes APRODH as a primary vehicle through which Burundi’s human rights ideals can be concretely realized. It also acknowledges IBJ’s commitment to assist in efforts by civil society and professional bodies to implement existing criminal laws through providing legal training, structural support and material assistance.

From left: Program Director Sanjeewa Liyanage, APRODH Founder and Chairman Pierre Claver Mbonimpafar, IBJ Founder and CEO Karen Tse, Legal Representative Jean-Baptiste Sahokwasama and former IBJ Africa Fellow Marlon Zakeyo following the conclusion of the MOU in Burundi.

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