Extraditing Genocide Suspects from Europe to Rwanda. Issues and Challenges

Extraditing Genocide Suspects From Europe to Rwanda Issues and Challenges Report of a Conference Organised by REDRESS and African Rights at the Belgian Parliament, 1 July 2008 “We encourage the use of universal jurisdiction to try fugitives and we salute Belgium, Switzerland and Canada which have exercised such jurisdiction. At the same time, we would not be talking about extradition, if every country was prosecuting the fugitives living on their territory”. Sam Rugege, Vice- President of the Supreme Court, Rwanda, Conference Intervention “It was self- evident that the ‘do nothing option’ was not an option at all. The reason is obvious. No one, least of all alleged génocidaires (travelling sometimes under false names and identities), should be able to escape justice by the mere act of flitting across international borders. We have a collective responsibility not to offer safe havens to fugitives”. Bob Wood, Home Office, United Kingdom, Conference Intervention