Arusha — A three-day training workshop of Rwanda Witness Protection Officers organised by the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was held in Arusha from Tuesday to Thursday, this week.

The workshop which brought together thirty five officials from Rwanda and the Tribunal familiarised the Rwandan officials on the ICTR Witness Protection Programme.

The workshop was part of the Cooperation and Capacity Building Programme being undertaken by the Tribunal to assist Rwanda develop a system which would enable its witness protection programmes to adapt to local dynamics and realities on the ground.

The assistance was requested for by the Rwanda Government in its efforts to rehabilitate and strengthen the capacity of its justice sector.

Several professional papers on the role and management of witnesses and the importance of their protection were presented at the workshop that was facilitated by the Witnesses and Victims Support Section (WVSS) of the Tribunal.