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Visions of Rwanda Photo Project

Leopold Mijyambere

Photo by Linda Smith

Leopold Mujyambere is a Gacaca* judge in Kanombe sector in Kigali. His daughter was killed before his eyes during the genocide. Leopold’s photographs depict various aspects of daily life in Rwanda.

Leopold Mijyambere
A house destroyed during the genocide.
A child walks to school in the early morning.
Two girls carry wood to help build a fence.
A group of women weave baskets.
A group of men weave baskets. This is an uncommon sight in Rwanda where women traditionally weave baskets.
A woman carrying bananas.
A woman holds the baskets that she has made.
Baskets made by women in Rwanda.
A mother holds her baby.
A little boy sits among the crops in his father’s garden.
A man sings in front of children.
A photograph of a school.
A cemetery of people that were killed in the 1994 genocide.
A cemetery of people that were killed in the 1994 genocide.

* The Rwandan government began implementing a participatory justice system, known as gacaca, (pronounced GA-CHA- CHA) in 2001 in order to address the enormous backlog of cases in the judicial system. Communities elected judges to hear the trials of genocide suspects accused of all crimes except planning of genocide or rape. Those who are accused of looting or murder and who have pleaded guilty receive provisional release and can go home while awaiting trial. Rwanda continues to use the classical national court system to try those involved in planning genocide or rape under normal penal law. Those that are accused of these crimes do not benefit from provisional release. The gacaca courts give lower sentences if the person is repentant and seeks reconciliation with the community. These courts are intended to help the community participate in the process of justice and reconciliation for the country.

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