Page 27 - 15 years of TI-Rwanda experience : citizen engagement as the driver to fight against corruption

26 Transparency International Rwanda Transparency International Rwanda 27

EMPOWERING CITIZENS Since 2008, ALACs and AJICs are supported by Norwegian People’s Aid through the Public Policy Information,

Monitoring and Advocacy (PPIMA) Project.
TO REPORT CORRUPTION Every day, at least 30 people are supported by ALACs and AJICs through legal advices, advocacy or are

empowered to be capable to claim for their rights when denied! These centers are instrumental to empower
AND INJUSTICES CASES victims or witnesses of corruption to break the silence and report.

“ALACs and AJICs received more than 4000 clients in the last
year alone. To me, this is very convincing evidence that citizens
The experience of Advocacy and really value the support offered by the ALACs and AJICs. This is a
strong message to local authorities that there is public appetite for
Legal Advice Centers accountability. The centers contribute to closing the gap between
citizen participation, legal advice and filing case”

Róisín Devale,

dvocacy and Legal Advice People’s Aid in another four Country Director Norwegian People’s Aid
Centers (ALAC) are anti- Districts: Gakenke, Gatsibo,
Acorruption initiatives Ngororero and Nyaruguru. AJIC
providing free legal aid to victims use the well-established ALAC
and witnesses of corruption approach to provide legal advice “My brother used to work at the District of office of ALAC in RUBAVU district. I explained my
and seek to empower citizens to citizens. Ngororero, and he was a youth officer. He was locked case to the ALAC coordinator. After he carefully
to demand accountability and in at the police station for 11 days without being listened to me, he immediately called the District
transparency. TI-RW opened the To even reach citizens at sector notified of the reason for his imprisonment. When Police Commander (DPC) to tell him about my case and
doors of their first ALACs in April and village level and provide I went to visit him, the police told me that he was he connected me with the commander who told me to
2009 in Kigali. In 2011, another basic access to legal aid in accused of public funds embezzlement. call him the same day in the evening. Eventually, he
five centers were opened in Huye, remote areas, TI-RW has created I wondered how someone accused of embezzlement told me that my brother had to return back home the
Rusizi, Rubavu, Musanze and so called Citizens Concerned In Rwanda, six ALACs are in place to could spend more than 10 days without being following day, which also happened.
Kayonza Districts. Committees (CCC) in 2015. Over inform and engage Rwandan citizens to presented to courts to try him, as it is stipulated by All in all, if TI-Rw had not intervened, my brother
time, ALACs and CCCs have prevent and fight corruption 25.488 the ordinary judicial procedures. Personally, I thought would have spent many days in jail without any real
Since 2012, TI-RW cooperates created mutual collaboration complaints received in ALACs (2009 - this practice was against the current law in Rwanda. cause, which would generate more socio-economic
with the Anti-Corruption, Justice and a strong relationship in 2017); 10.738 complaints received in problems to his family”
and Information Clubs (AJIC), supporting each other in their AJICs (2013-2017) A few days later, I was notified that he was detained
that were initiated by Norwegian daily work. at the transit center for offenders. I found a way A client from Rubavu District.
to Transparency International Rwanda through their

Together Against Corruption Together Against Corruption