Strengthening Victim-Centered Justice in Kigali
On 9th October, the Center for Justice and Advocacy at Certa Foundation in partnership with The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation conducted a one-day capacity-building training for justice sector actors from Nyarugenge District, Kicukiro District, and Gasabo District on Trauma-Informed Interviewing, Evidence Collection, and GBV Victim Support.
The training brought together 30 key justice professionals, including officers from the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Isange One Stop Center (ISOC), Maison d’Accès à la Justice (MAJ), civil society organizations, and local government authorities.
The training was officially opened by Uwamahoro Genevieve, Deputy District Executive Administrator in Nyarugenge District, who thanked participants and expressed appreciation to Certa Foundation for organizing the session. She emphasized the importance of partnerships grounded in a shared purpose, to serve communities and eradicate GBV through the provision of quality legal services to Victims.
During the training, Me Uwizeyimana Dative, Senior Pro Bono Lawyer at Certa Foundation, led a session on Legal and Trauma-Informed Interviewing. Through practical teaching materials, she highlighted that GBV victims often face diverse forms of trauma stemming from their experiences of violence, highlighting the importance of handling each case with empathy and sensitivity. She also presented techniques for conducting victim interviews without exposing them to re-victimisation, emphasizing ethical and victim-centered approaches throughout the justice process.
Participants gained hands-on experience in interviewing traumatized victims, collecting and preserving evidence with integrity, and fostering collaboration across institutions to ensure victim-centered justice.
In her closing remarks, Uwamahoro Genevieve thanked the trainers and facilitators for their insightful presentations and encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained and continue working collaboratively to strengthen the justice system’s response to GBV.
At Certa Foundation, we remain steadfast in our mission to empower justice sector professionals and ensure that GBV victims receive fair, compassionate, and timely access to justice.