The United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT) is expected to return to Rwanda later this year, prompting renewed calls for the body to insist on unrestricted access to political prisoners, journalists and independent YouTubers held in detention. The SPT previously suspended a visit to Rwanda in 2017 after authorities reportedly restricted access to certain detention facilities and interfered with confidential interviews. The article argues that direct contact with detainees will be essential for the UN body to independently assess conditions in Rwandan prisons and determine whether the country is complying with its obligations under the UN Convention against Torture.
The appeal comes amid concerns over arbitrary detention and the treatment of government critics. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued opinions concerning the detention of opposition figures, including Victoire Ingabire, while the article also highlights the deaths in custody of activist Kizito Mihigo in 2020 and government critic Aimable Karasira in 2026. Against this backdrop, the SPT is urged to look beyond official assurances and conduct independent, face-to-face interviews with detainees. According to the article, such access is necessary to establish whether Rwanda is meeting commitments made during its latest UN human rights review and to provide a credible assessment of alleged torture and ill-treatment in the country’s detention system.
Read the full article here: Why the UN Torture Prevention Body Must Meet with Rwanda’s Detained Critics