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Universal justice dominates jurists’ meet Chief Justices and legal practitioners began the tenth edition of the East African Magistrates and Judges Association (EAMJA) conference in Kigali. They called on Africa to standardize its judicial systems as the only alternative against western imperialism. Tanzanian Chief Justice, Mohamed Chande, said that conceptual and practical exercise of universal jurisdiction must be closely examined. He called on judges and magistrates to heavily contribute to the fight against impunity as well as strengthening the rule of law in their respective countries.Chande said that his country has initiated a constitutional review process that will see Tanzania get a new constitution in 2014 adding that among others the constitution will show the role of the judiciary in Tanzania’s liberty and its contribution on the legal order.Rwanda’s Chief Justice, Sam Rugege, noted that universal jurisdiction involves a country trying persons, where there is no connection to the accused apart from the crime. 130,000 to benefit from cancer vaccinesThe exercise to distribute Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine to over 130,000 girls to prevent cervical cancer kicked off this week.It is the second phase after one last year which saw over 100,000 adolescents receive the same jab three times in six months. The campaign targets girls between aged between 12 and 14.The first part of the exercise took place at Apapec Irebero Primary School, Gisozi and more than 40 girls were vaccinated.The head of vaccine preventable diseases in the Ministry of Health, Maurice Gatera, said more children are being targeted compared to last year. Chief Justice questions credibility of ICCChief Justice, Sam Rugege, expressed distrust in the international courts’ capability to try Africans.He said that the court is limited by distance and understanding the context in which the crimes were committed.Rugege said that many Africans are not happy about the way the International Criminal Court (ICC) operates. He said that many people do not only think the court is biased towards the continent, but also ignores crimes committed in other parts of the world. He noted that although the ICC helps countries with limited capacity, it is not right to ignore war crimes being committed elsewhere. The Chief Justice said that although Africa appreciates the purpose of setting up of the court, its trust is lost when the continent is singled out yet many other international cases are ignored. Dev’t budget up by 4.6per centThe Government is set to increase spending on infrastructure projects in the next fiscal year as it seeks to further make doing business and to boost the country’s economic growth in the medium term. The draft budget framework paper the Minister of Finance, Minister, John Rwangombwa, presented to both chambers of parliament indicates that government will spend Rwf651.1 billion on infrastructure projects the coming fiscal year. This represents a 4.6 per cent increase from the current development budget – Rwf508.6 billion (42.6 per cent of the 2011/12 overall budget).The budget is Rwf1, 378.4 trillion, representing 29 per cent of the country’s nominal GDP. This represents an additional Rwf184.2 billion compared to the current budget which is Rwf1, 194.2 trillion.Military observers’ course opensSenior military officials from the East African Community (EAC) partner states began an International Military Observers Course, at Rwanda Peace Academy (RPA) Nyakinama, Musanze District.The course is accredited by the United Nations. It also attracted trainees from Malawi and Australia.From Rwanda Defence Force, twenty-two officers are attending. It will go on for three weeks with support from the Australian government through the Australian Defence Force Peace Operation Training Centre (POTC).The Chief of Staff of RDF Land Forces, Lt. Gen. Ceaser Kayizari, said the officers involved in peace support operations needed maximum preparations in terms of knowledge, skills and attitude.He added that East African Countries contribute military contingents and other components in support of peace missions under UN and AU operations and that support from military observers is very important.Sezibera assumes leadership of inter-regional groupingThe Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Dr Richard Sezibera, took over the rotational chairpersonship of the coordination team of the Inter-Regional Coordinating Committee (IRCC).The leadership of the bloc was taken over by the EAC from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).The IRCC is a grouping of four regional blocs, namely, COMESA, the EAC, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC).Rwanda is a member of both EAC and COMESA. The four groupings form the Eastern and Southern Africa–Indian Ocean, ESA-IO region.MPs condemn local leaders’ stand on genderOfficials of the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) and lawmakers expressed dismay over the lack of gender responsive budgets in most districts of the Eastern Province.The concern was raised Thursday as the Governor, Odette Uwamariya, and district mayors in her province, appeared before the Chamber of Deputies’ committee on budget and national planning to present next year’s budget estimates and the 2011/12 budget execution.The Director of planning in GMO, Emmy Mupende, noted that gender situational analysis in some districts is well elaborated but, by and large, lacks a baseline. Mupende said that there is need for improvements especially in capacity building and technical support so that districts can carry out their activities.