Lawyer Claire has clear case for returning to Rwanda

By GARETH EDWARDS
Edinburgh Evening News
July 6, 2009

FOR a legal-eagle more used to the hushed corridors of Edinburgh's Sheriff Court, moving to the often chaotic courtrooms of Rwanda would seem a strange career choice.

But for Claire Wilkinson, the experience has proved so rewarding that she is now hoping to spend more time in the country.

The principal procurator fiscal depute at Crown Office took a leave of absence earlier this year to travel to Rwanda as part.

The 34-year-old, from Hillside, has been working for the past nine months to try to help local people understand their legal rights, and improve access to the legal system for children in particular.

The Rwandan legal system works in a similar way to the British courts, but Ms Wilkinson was shocked to discover that most people in the country accused of a crime were not even aware that they had legal rights.

"I was fairly stunned, because about 90 per cent of the people cannot afford a lawyer, and so think that they will not be able to get any help if they are accused of a crime," she said.

"A lot of the people I spoke to did not even know they had legal rights, and so many just wind up languishing in prison while their case gets lost in the system."

Despite the brutal civil wars which have raged in Rwanda in recent years, most of the cases Ms Wilkinson has seen involved property theft.

"It is related to the genocide, as that saw a lot of incidents where entire families were killed, and so the ownership of their land is disputed, and it's an area where people need to know there is legal advice available to them," she said. "A lot of cases involve people simply stealing land from another family."

And while she admitted that her experience of courts in Rwanda had been limited, particularly compared to the Capital where she regularly worked on criminal trials, she said she was surprised at some of the differences.

She said: "I've not been into any cases, as that's not really my role, but I visited the main courthouse in the capital Kigali, where I've been based, and it was quite an eye-opener.

She said: "I've not been into any cases, as that's not really my role, but I visited the main courthouse in the capital Kigali, where I've been based, and it was quite an eye-opener.

"It was incredibly busy, but the most surprising thing was all the accused, who are in coloured jumpsuits and can be easily spotted, are just left to sit there without guards, and they never attempt to escape.

You can't imagine that happening here." Ms Wilkinson's principal task is to help develop the Rwandan Lawyers of Hope initiative, part of the CLEAR International network, which provides legal education in developing countries.

The organisation works with local authorities and the international community. She has also been working with her Rwandan counterparts in the prisons, helping children to gain representation so that their voices can be heard.

This has involved her in, among other things, writing a strategic plan for the year, setting up a computer network and obtaining and equipping office premises.

Ms Wilkinson is now planning to return to Rwanda to continue the work there, and is hoping to raise funds to help support her while she is there.

Anyone who would like to contribute should visit www.help.co.uk/fundraisers/clearrwanda