Gacaca Courts in the Light of Public International Law: Bold Step in Achieving Reconciliation and Justice in Rwanda

Abstract

Despite the fact that the Gacaca Courts have been the focus of a range of academic research, this work intends to demonstrate a detailed analysis of the Gacaca Courts from the viewpoint of public international law. The Gacaca Courts began their activities on the 18^th of June 2002 and were terminated on the 18^th of June 2012, and had prosecuted and tried around 2 million files of suspects of genocide and crimes against humanity committed between October 1990 and December 1994 in Kigali and the cities around. This research will examine such courts with regards to their objectives, establishments, legal framework, challenges, and their compatibility with the international standards agreed upon by the international community.

Keywords: Gacaca, Organic Law 40/2000, International Law, Presumption of Innocence,