A 10 day capacity building seminar on the law of indictments for Rwandan Prosecutors opened Tuesday, 1 April 2008 at Rwanda’s Institute of Legal Practice and Development in Nyanza, Southern Province. About 147 participants drawn from different levels in the National Prosecution Service are attending the workshop.

In his remarks, Mr. Richard Karegyesa, Senior Trial Attorney, on behalf of the ICTR Prosecutor, Mr. Hassan Bubacar Jallow, said that this training is one of the important pillars of the justice system and would enable the exchange of legal experience in the drafting of indictments.

He thanked the Government of Rwanda for inviting the ICTR to participate in and share experience with the Rwandan National Prosecution Service. The ICTR official also thanked the European Union and the World Bank for the support the two institutions are providing in strengthening the capacity of the Rwandan Judiciary.

Mr. Karegyesa announced that the Tribunal will continue with its programme of capacity building for the Rwandan Justice sector. He commended the existing cordial and excellent relationship between the ICTR and the Government of Rwanda.

At the opening ceremony, on behalf of the Prosecutor General, Mr. Hitiyaremye Alphonse, the Deputy Prosecutor General, thanked the organizers of the seminar, which he said would provide the necessary knowledge to improve the work of the prosecutors in the country. The Rwandan Official added that the techniques in drafting indictments would enable the country’s judiciary to operate on international standards needed in the protection of the rights for the accused.

The training is being facilitated by officials from the office of the Prosecutor. It follows similar ones already organized by the ICTR for judges, prosecutors, and members of the Rwanda Bar Association among others