BY JEAN CLAUDE RWIBASIRA LEGAL AND POLICY COORDINATOR, TI-RWANDA CSOs involvement in reviews and in the greater context of the fight against corruption: Rwanda experience Addis Ababa, April 10th, 2019 BY JEAN CLAUDE RWIBASIRA LEGAL AND POLICY COORDINATOR, TI-RWANDA

ABOUT TI-RW Mission Vision Transparency International Rwanda (TI-RW) is a Rwandan civil society organization created in 2004 Accredited as national chapter of Transparency International in September 2011 Our focus is on four thematic pillars: Preventing and combating corruption, Promotion of rule of law, transparency and accountability, Communication building and evidence-based advocacy, Citizen engagement.   Our mission is to contribute to the fight against corruption and promote good governance through enhancing integrity in the Rwandan society. Mission Zero tolerance to corruption in the Rwandan society. Vision

Mechanisms to collect evidence on corruption and injustices Information Research ALAC Centers IFATE & Toll free 2641 Outreach & Legal Mobile Clinics Integrity Pact Social Media Suggestion Boxes Partnerships CSOs, AJICs & GOR INST. Committees of Concerned Citizens

Examples of joint actions

Meetings, events and joint projects Unity is strength UNCAC Reviews 1st & 2nd Cycles MOUs: APNAC, OMBUD. RIB NPPA CSOs Meetings Sharing of information & referrals Campaigns on raising public awareness National Anti-corruption Advisory Council Joint Project: Sobanuzainkiko.org Trainings Research projects Conferences Corruption month

good practices in involving CSOs in the fight against corruption Together against corruption 2. CSOs promote vertical accountability empowering the citizens to hold their government accountable for its actions 3. CSOs as watchdog of the government’s actions monitor and measure progress towards the implementation of commitments made the government of Rwanda 5. CSOs Conduct advocacy activities change in how things are being done 6. CSOs conduct research and measurement of corruption contribute to the fight against corruption 4.CSOs as informant of policy dialogue depth knowledge of the local population 1. CSOs as powerful internal pressure mechanism representatives of citizens and pursue the goals of general interest

CSO involvement in the review mechanism How are they involved? TIR participated in the first cycle of UNCAC review as the Civil society representative (part of Governmental Experts from July 2013) What should be improved? - Involvement of CSOs at the earlier stage - Possibility of producing a shadow report? How did they help? Sharing of information: researches conducted, etc.

Measures taken after the first cycle of reviews Laws The Law on assets recovery (2015) Whistle-blowers protection law (2017) to enhance the protection of whistle blowers The Anti-corruption law (2018) Anti-money laundering law (2018) Preventive measures ICT tools and systems: E-services Reporting tools: sobanuzainkiko.org, etc Joint Awareness campaigns Corruption month Outreach activities at the Cell assemblies: Inteko z’Abaturage

Lessons learnt The review involving CSOs has proved to be successful because: the CSOs bring in their in-depth knowledge of corruption issues; CSOS advise on different mechanisms to put in place in order to improve the current situation. The fight against corruption should be a “collective responsibility”, not the monopoly of the government.

Thank you!