CAURWA

Report of the meeting of partners of CAURWA

held at the Presbyterian Centre, Kiyovu

Kigali-Rwnda

11/11/1998

Introduction

In order to fulfil one of the objectives of the Communauté des Autocthones Rwandais (CAURWA) namely ‘To act as a lobbying agency to negotiate funds for its members’, this non-profit organisation organised, on 11 November 1998 at the Presbyterian Centre at Kiyovu, Rw anda, a meeting of different NGOs and institutions working in Rwanda.

This meeting had a three-fold objective, namely:

- to inform the participants of CAURWA’s mission

- the problems and the achievements of CAURWA since its creation in 1995

- the projects developed and requiring funding.

All these objectives are directed towards strategies for improving the living conditions of the Rwandan minorities, namely the Batwa and the "Pygmies".

Overall, this meeting brought together few participants, as the majority of the NGOs and institutions, both public and private, did not reply to the invitation. Equally regrettable was the absence of national authorities who, however, are not unaware of the deplorable condition of the Batwa and "Pygmies" of Rwanda. The same applies to the UN organisations qhich were not represented at this meeting.

Nevertheless, the participants present at the meeting were informed about

- the creation and the objectives of CAURWA

- the various achievements

- the problems of CAURWA and its member organisations

- the main projects initiated aimed at the integrated development of the Batwa and "Pygmies".

These subjects were presented in that order by:

* Mrs Clothilde Muzabeyezu, Vice Chairman of CAURWA

* Mr Jean Claude Kalinganire, Secretary General

* Mr Gerard Seruvumba, Member of the Administrative Council

* Mr Jean Karayiga, Treasurer.

The meeting was officially opened by Mr. Vincent Karega, Director of Planning at the Ministry for Gender, Family and Social Affairs (MIGEFASO).

The day was enriched by the debates on the themes presented by the members of the Executive Committee, and especially the problems of CAURWA, while revealing the main solutions to be discussed if the collective is to achieve its mission.

This report describes how the meeting progressed and the recommendations made by the participants.

II. Progress of the meeting.

2.1 Opening Ceremonies

Prior to the official opening of the meeting following the speech of the Director of Planning of MIGEFASO, the participants, after introducing themselves, heard the three following presentations.

- information about CAURWA by Mrs. Clothilde Misabeyezu

- achievements of CAURWA by J. Claude Kalinganire

- problems of CAURWA by Gérard Seruvumba.

2.1.1 Information about CAURWA

Mrs Clothilde introduced her presentation by describing the motives which led to the creation of CAURWA, principally the post-genocide situation. She presented the member organisations of the collective which are legally recognised, namely: APB, recognised on 13/8/1991 and ADBR, recognised on 4/1/1994. She emphasised the main mission of the collective and the steps achieved two years after its creation. She closed by informing the audience of the aims of the meeting, namely:

- the request for advice, material support and moral support;

- exchange of experiences to enrich the understanding of the young association;

- comments on the development projects initiated by CAURWA and the member organisations.

2.1.2 Achievements of CAURWA

In his presentation, Mr. Jean Claude briefly sketched out the activities carried out since the collective’s creation in 1995. These include, amongst others,

- awareness-raising amongst orphans and widows

- survey of the situation of Batwa prisonners

- agri-pastoral projects

- tile, brick and pottery projects

- institutional strengthening, including support and advice to member organisations and information technology

- etc.

The even geographic distribution of these projects across the country is encouraging. Activities have taken place in nine of the 12 prefectures, carried out either by the collective or by its member organisations. All these activities have been achieved thanks to the unwavering assistance of certain organisations, such as

* FPP/WRM

* Comic Relief

* UN High Commission for Human Rights and UNDP

* Onaway Trust

* Oxfam UK

* CAFOD etc.

2.1.3 Problems of CAURWA

In his presentation, Mr. Gérard Seruvumba shared with the participants the crucial problems which have hindered the functioning of the collective and the main handicaps encountered by the Twa population, and "Pygmies" in particular. Expressed succinctly these are:

1) The national institutions, both public and private, don’t share the same understanding of the problems faced by the associations supporting the development of the Batwa.

2) The collective’s lack of sufficent resources to support its member organisations such that the latter can achieve their mission.

3) The national development plan does not reach down to the indigenous communities, which means that they continue to be excluded. Certain programmes even curtail the development of indigenous people, notably environmental programmes.

4) The tragedies of 1994 caused the deaths of considerable numbers of Batwa and at present more than three thousand are in preventative detention. Meanwhile, no trial of Batwa has been declared.

5) The general survey of survivors of genocide has not taken Batwa widows and orphans into account.

6) When land was granted, the Twa populations did not receive plots of land for agri-pastoral activities, or even houses within the agglomerations (Imidugudu).

7) The education of Twa children is quite difficult, given the poverty of this population. They do not have a benefit card to gain access to medical care or even school.

8) The clay marshes are given to tile makes, brick makers, farmers and livestock rearers and the Batwa are abandoned to themselves even though these lands are their main source of incme as a result of their main activity of pottery.

9) Qualified Batwa are not recruited as employees, neither at the level of the central administration, nor by the private sector.

These problems tally generally with the crisis in post-war Rwandese society, namely:

- food insecurity and poverty

- lack of a bill of rights

- socio-economic reintegration of the population

- the destruction of the Rwandese social fabric.

All these problems were debated in plenary, to reveal the objectives and the results to be achieved by the different projects initiated.

2.1.4 Official opening of the meeting by the Director of Planning, MIGEFASO.

In his official opening of the meeting, the Director thanked the members of CAURWA for having involved MIGEFASO in this meeting. He condemned the history and policies which had characterised the preceding governments by favouring marginalisation to the extent of genocide. The Government of National Union excludes any form of discrimintation, by making all possible efforts to ensure that each human group can enjoy their rights and promote their self-development. He thanked CAURWA which, as a collective, has advocated the cause of a group of vulnerable and marginalised Rwandese, and invited the participants to avoid any factor which destroys a people, as this factor should be regarded as a harmful microbe. He emphasised that this task is the responsibility of everyone.

He promised that MIGEFASO would support CAURWA so that it could really act as a springboard for the development of the Batwa. He invited the Executive Committee to work together with the Department of Social Affairs of MIGEFASO to carry out their plan of action, notably the education of Batwa children as the funding support for this sector has not made any distinction.

He insisted that the initiatives already undertaken should be reinforced. Ending his presentation, he thanked the Committee for having organised this meeting which was a strategic and auspicious framework for planning and seeking solutions, and he promised the necessary support to enable CAURWA to achieve its mission.

2.2 Debate on the problems of CAURWA and its member organisations

This subject captured the attention of the participants, to determine together the problems of our society within which the indigenous population is situated.

The debate revolved around the key problems identified by the presentation of Mr. Seruvumba, namely:

1. the socio-economic reintegration of Batwa and "Pygmies"

2. a bill of rights in favour of the Batwa

3. the institutional capacity of the collective and its member organisations.

Concerning the first point about socio-economic reintegration, the participants, after much discussion, generated the following suggestions for the reintegration to be truly effective:

=> the Batwa and "Pygmies" should be made aware and instructed at all levels so that they know their rights. The authorities should also be awakened to ensure the full recognition of this population and to avoid its exclusion. This recognition should take place form the lowest level to the highest, that is from the head of the household up to the Prefet, including the Conseiller, the Bourgmestre, etc.

=> This population should be thoroughly surveyed and its priority needs identified. These should be presented to different partners, both internal and external [to the country], by means of specific projects which can solve the problems identified.

-=> the Batwa currently don’t sruvive solely from pottery, and as they are no longer nomadic, they should receive plots of land to practice farming and livestock rearing, diversify their activities and produce new products out of clay to avoid competition.

= >as well as educational activities..... its members should put effort into training, an activity which willbe strengthened by the education of children, and the literacy classes for adults.

= > CAURWA’s member associations should contact other NGOs, both national and international, to exchange experiences on the subject of development in all sectors of rural life. CAURWA, as a collective, should know the institutions and services which can provide back up for the member organisations in their efforts at self-development.

APB and ADBR felt that the preceding governments had made many errors in the division of the national heritage. In effect, not a single support programme specifically for Batwa and "Pygmies" had been established in order to develop this group which has been marginalised for so long. As far as the two organisations are concerned, it is time for the public authorities to make a considerable effort in the integrated development of Batwa and "Pygmies" in order to redress the lagging behind [of the Batwa] noted during the last decades.

Concerning the second point about the lack of a Bill of Rights in Rwanda, the participants delored the lack of justice which is more and more evident, and has the result that the Batwa and "Pygmies" in particular don’t enjoy their rights to equality and liberty. It is in this context that CAURWA should act as an advocate for Batwa and "Pygmies" , especially with regard to national and even international opinion, for the prisonners presumed to be perpetrators of genocide.

Concerning the third point on the institutional strengthening of CAURWA and its member organisations, the participants called for an ongoing training programme to be developed for the Executive Committees of these assoications, and to organise other training sessions for the members, who, in their turn would instruct their colleagues. This programme would certainly raise the level of instruction in this population, which has been uneducated for a very long time.

2.3 Presentation of CAURWA’s projects by Jean Karayiga

The speaker informed the participans of the projects developed by CAURWA and its members, projects seeking funding or partially funded. These 18 projects addressed all the priorities of life, namely

- accommodation for those without shelter

- income-generating activities

- education and literacy,

These projects are located across the whole country and the beneficiaries include men and women.

As the projects require significant financial support, the participants suggested that there should be a pluri-annual planning process and recommended to CAURWA’s General Assembly and the Executive Committees of the member organisations, that they should prioritise the projects in order to prepare a short-term plan of action to be presented to potential donors.

2.4 Closing Ceremonies

2.4.1 Vote of Thanks

At the close of the meeting of partners of CAURWA held at the Presbyterian Centre, Kiyovu on 11/11/98, the members of the Executive Committee of CAURWA and its member organisations expressed their sincere thanks to those organisations which from near or far have provided support for its noble mission. They thanked particularly the FPP/WRM which, through the agency of Dr Dorothy Jackson, has supported the foundation of CAURWA and never ceases to provide moral and financial support. They also thanked Comic Relief for its institutional support for CAURWA’s office over three years. They also expressedtheir profound gratitude to Oxfam, CAFOD, and Onaway Trust for having helped CAURWA organise their trade exhibition in 1997 for the first time.

They thanked the UN High Commission for Human Rights and UNDP from the bottom of their hearts for the survey of Batwa prisonners as well as the production of a brochure about the organisation.

They enthusiastically acknowledged the British Embassy which has equipped CAURWA with a computer and accessories for high quality computerisation.

CAURWA will not forget anyone who has contributed to the well-being of Batwa and "Pygmies" in Rwanda.

CAURWA reiterated the contributions of all partners motivated by willingness to provide moral, financial and material support so that it can achieve its noble mission of vital importance to the Batwa and "Pygmies".

2.4.2 Resolutions and recommendations

After having surveyed CAURWA’s mission, its main achievments and its problems as well as the projects initiated by the collective and its member organisations, the participants at the meeting organised by CAURWA on 11 November 1998, at the Presbyterian Centre in Kiyovu, formulated the following resolutions and recommendations:

1. CAURWA and its member organisations (APB and ADBR) have made unfailing efforts to promote the integrated development of the Batwa people and "Pygmies" of Rwanda and act as an effective advocate for [Batwa people] to enjoy their rights to egality and freedom.

2. The participants request the national and international community to give moral and financial support to CAURWA, so that the organisation can achieve its mission.

3. The members of CAURWA and its member organisations regret the widespread absence of representatives of government authorities at meetings organised by partners. This attitude constitutes undeniable proof of the the exclusion by the public authorities of the Batwa and "Pygmy" minority.

4. The participants request the government to provide financial support for CAURWA so it can carry out its plan of action.

5. The participants request the government to incorporate as specific programme for the integrated development of Batwa and "Pygmies into its development plan, following the example of the survivors of genocide.

6. The participants request MIGEFASO to take account of Batwa widows in its GENDA programme. They recommend that Batwa orphans should benefit equally from the support provided by funds established at MIGEFASO for their education and adult literacy programmes.

7. The participants request MINITER and MINAGRI to allocate agricultural land and land with clay deposits to Batwa and "Pygmies" for their farming and pottery activities.

8. The participants request MINIJUST to expedite the dossiers of the alleged perpetrators of genocide, and in particular the dossiers of Batwa prisonners.

9. The participants recommend that equal opportunity in the field of recruitment should be granted to everyone without exclusion.

10. CAURWA should follow up the thorough survey of Batwa and "Pygmies" and bring out into the open their specific needs relating to the theme of self-development. The participants recommend that Trocaire should finance this activity in the remaining prefectures.

2.4.3 Presentation of Mrs. Clothilde Musabeyezu

In her closing words, Mrs. Clothilde enthusiastically thanked all the participants who had prelied to CAURWA’s invitation. She emphasised that their presence was an irreversable testimony of their concern for the Batwa people and "Pygmies" which have been marginalised for so long.

During the meeting, she emphasised that the participants were able to share information about the creation of CAURWA, its mission, its achievements as well as the challenges to be overcome regarding the projects devised for the integrated development of the most disadvantaged of the Rwandese people, the Batwa and "Pygmies".

The remarks made during the discussions showed that this people experiences real difficulties in integrating into a society which is faced with the acute problems of the post-war situation. As a collective, CAURWA will not spare any effort to promote the emergence of the harmonious development of indigenous peoples through its member oganisations. It is from this standpoint that CAURWA continues to engage its partners and lobby for financial and material support for the said organisations. It will continue to advocate for the just and equitable cause of the Batwa and "Pygmies" and will raise their awareness so they can assert their rights.

To achieve this, Mrs. Clothilde reiterated [the need for] everyone’s cooperation and promised CAURWA’s contribution, however small, towards the edification of a just and balanced Rwandese society.