COMMISSIONER

Sylvie Kayitesi

Sylvie Kayitesi

Born on 27 May 1962, Rwandan, married, Law graduate of National University of Rwanda (now University of Rwanda (UR) and of Masters in International Criminal Justice and Law of Human Rights (UR).

Former Deputy Chief Justice and Judge of the Supreme Court of Rwanda since December 2011 up to December 2019.

She is Commissioner of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Chairperson of the Working Group on Death Penalty in Africa since 2007 and Chairperson of the working Group on specifics issues of the Commission, member of the Working Group on Communications and of Working Group on elder and disabled persons.

She is Commissioner of International Commission against Death Penalty (ICDP)

Mrs Kayetesi was Minister of Public Service and Labour, and Secretary of State at the Ministry of Lands, Resettlement and Environment (March 1999 – November 2002).

She is Former Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (2013-2015) and Former Vice-Chairperson of the Commission (2011-2013). As a Member of the Commission, she has also served as Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, and Chairperson of the Working Group on Communications.

She served as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Human Rights of Rwanda (December 2003- November 2011). In the latter capacity, she served as the Chairperson of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions and Member of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights for two years, Vice-Chairperson of the Francophone Association of National Human Rights Institutions, and Chairperson of the East African Community (EAC) Forum of National Human Rights Institutions.

Mrs Kayitesi worked with UNHCR–Rwanda as Associate Protection Officer, NOB (1996-1999).

She served as President of the Women’s Association for the Protection of the Rights of Women and Children HAGURUKA (1995-1999), where she served as Vice-President of Pro-Femmes (an Umbrella of more than 30 Associations for the promotion of women rights) .