Valentin Akayezu Muhumuza is a Rwandan lawyer seeking new opportunities. He has over 15 years of experience working in the Rwandan legal system, including as a magistrate and lecturer. Valentin holds multiple degrees in law and development studies. He has participated in numerous international trainings focusing on issues like human rights, conflict resolution, and transitional justice. Valentin is skilled in legal research and analysis with a specialization in international criminal law. He is looking to contribute to promoting justice, human rights, and the rule of law.

1. Curriculum Vitae
1. PERSONAL DATA
Title: Mr
First name: VALENTIN
Last name: AKAYEZU MUHUMUZA
Date of birth: 02.01.1978
Sex: Male
Nationality: Rwanda
Address: Musanze, Nothern Province
B.P. 3055 KIGALI-RWANDA
Preferred e-mail for Contact:akamva@yahoo.fr, +250782385513/722925317
2. WORK EXPERIENCE
 Magistrate in Intermediate Court of Musanze (Rwanda) from 20/07/2004 to 12/08/2013: My tasks
focused principally on family cases, criminal and civil cases. The experience gained from the
matters relating to the land problem and the after genocide-connected offences (ideology of
genocide, discrimination and sectarianism), was the one that called my professional interest. Due
to this, I am now able to engage myself even deeper in a more substantive search of solutions
towards conflict transformation in the aftermath of grave atrocities;
 Part-time Assistant Lecturer in Institute of Applied Sciences-INES Ruhengeli (Rwanda) from
12/06/2012 to 31/08/2013, 06 May 2015 to 31 July 2015: in accordance with the responsibilities
associated with the position, I was tasked to conducting research in academic perspective. The
area of interest was National and International Criminal Law as well as Domestic and International
Legal Proceedings. To make the most effective use of this knowledge, I followed e-learning
specialized short courses such as Introduction to Criminal Law (School of Law, Case Western
Reserve University), Introduction to Human Rights Course (School of Law, Geneva University),
Introduction to English Common Law: Structures and Principles (Birkbeck College, University of
London), Course of Human Trafficking (Ohio State University);
 Member of «Association des Défenseurs judiciaires» in Rwanda from 11/09/1999 to 20/07/2004:
In the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, they were a lot of problems to deal with a great number
of suspects who were detained. As it was necessary to comply with international standards of fair
trial, an Association of Judicial Defenders was created beside the Bar with a mission to represent
the accused persons at a certain levels of Rwandan courts. Their missions were completely similar
to those of other lawyers in criminal matters. In this respect, I have skills of pleadings in Courts of
Law in different areas such as Human Rights, property rights, gender-related issues, contracts and
other forms of agreements and legal drafting. In addition, I am familiar with the use of Alternative
Modes of Disputes Resolution;
 Judicial Police Officer in Rwanda from 01/08/1998 to 11/09/1999: my duties were to collect facts
relating to the commission of crime, to hear witnesses of both side (accused and plaintiff) and to
prepare a criminal file to fill in prosecution.

2. 3. UNIVERSITY AND SECONDARY STUDIES
 International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), part of Erasmus University of Rotterdam (Netherlands)
from 02/09/2013 to 12/12/2014: Master of Arts in Development Studies, Major of Human Rights,
Gender and Conflict Studies: Social Justice Perspectives. My specialization is Human Rights and
Conflict Studies. The main courses were Contemporary Theory of Social Justice, Human Rights, Law
and Society, Realizing rights and Social Justice, Securitization of Development: Violence,
Humanitarianism and Peace and the course of Violent Conflict, Media and the Politics of
Representation;
 Rwanda Institute of Legal Practice and development (ILPD) from 17/01/2010 to 25/09/2010: Post
Graduate Degree of Legal Practice and Development studies. The main courses were General Legal
Culture(Civil and Common Law proceedings), Interviewing techniques, Legal Drafting, Criminal
process, Pleading and Moot Court, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Lawyers, Prosecutors and Judges
Professions;
 National University of Rwanda(currently named University of Rwanda) from 13/01/2008 to
27/11/2008: Master's degree in studies of Business Law, my interest area was International
Business Criminal Law and Corporate Governance;
 Kigali Independent University (Rwanda) from 29/09/1998 to 18/02/2006: Bachelor's degree of Law. I
followed studies of law which combined both National and International Law, Civil, Criminal Law and
Legal Proceedings;
 Collège du Christ-Roi de Nyanza (Secondary School in Rwanda) from 05/09/1991 to 22/07/1997.
Diploma in studies of Latin and modern languages.
4. INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP AND TRAININGS
 Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (Ghana): Certificate of completion for the
program of protecting civilians in armed conflict. Skills: protections of civilians; rules and principles
guiding peacekeepers; Addressing gender issues in peace-building setting; Security Sector Reform
and strengthening Rule of Law; Disarmament, Demobilization and Reinsertion, humanitarian and
emergency aid.
 Expert training in The Hague related to Professional Ethics and disciplinary proceedings for Defense
at International Criminal Courts, organized by Lawyers Verwiel & Van Der Voort in collaboration with
the Office of Public Counsel for the Defence of the International Criminal Court: the training focused
on the issue of ethics for defence counsel at the international tribunals. A particular emphasis was
put on ICC proceedings, developments in case law on defence ethics and disciplinary proceedings at
the ICTY and ICC, Prosecutor's Code of Conduct, comparative disciplinary systems at the various
International Tribunals and the problem of practical matters in relation to defence investigations
and presentation of witnesses at trial;
 The Hague Academy of Local Governance: A program of Rule of Law and Governance in Fragile
States. Skills gained: practical and theoretical approaches to enforce Rule of Law's policies; Human
Rights; gender justice; gender in development context; protection of child rights; Security Sector
Reform; Conflict mediation, Judicial process and reconciliation mechanisms and Citizen
empowerment.

3.  Institute of Development Studies (IDS): Skills gained: to work for gender-sensitive governance as to
ensure that gender equality and women’s rights are at the heart of the goals and practices of
governance.
 Fellowship program on Transitional Justice: Course organized by Institute of Justice and
Reconciliation (South Africa) and The Hague Institute of Global Justice. Skills gained: establishment
of successful process of transitional justice; role of international and national Courts in building
peace; setting efficient conditionalities to implement a constant environment for reconciliation
process; responding to gender issues in the aftermath of violent conflicts; humanitarian
preparedness after a war context.
 Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (Germany): The Hague Summit on International Law & Human
Rights “An Interdisciplinary Analysis of the Role of International Law in Promoting Human Rights.
Thematic areas: linkage between Human rights protection and International Criminal law; migration
issues, access to justice in International proceedings; protection of Human Rights Defenders;
problem of Refugees and situation of statelessness; child rights; economic, social and cultural rights;
universalism and relativism of Human Rights; gender-based violence issues etc.
 Institute for Security Studies/African Centre for Peace and Security Trainings: Certificate of
Participation in the programme “Uprisings and Democratic Governance”.
 AEGIS TRUST: Genocide and Mass Atrocities: Actors, Causes and Responses to Violence. Rwanda
based short Course
5. INTERNSHIP
 The Hague Conference on Private International Law: thru this internship, my interest was to study
how International Private Law can be an effective means to protect human rights: maintenance
recovery and child support, improving national judicial system in light of Hague Conventions to
foster the fairness of foreign investment.
6. SKILLS & INTERESTS
 Professional Membership:
- Member of Network of Legal Contributor to the World Bank Group’s Women, Business and the
Law (WBL) project;
- Member of ConstitutionNet’s Community;
- Member of International Network to Promote the Rule of Law;
- Member of the Alliance for Peacebuilding Evaluation Community.
 Voluntary skills: French Speaking Facilitator in Human Rights and Democratization Committee of
African Youth Movement;
 Languages: Kinyarwanda mother tongue with fluency in French, moderate use of Kiswahili and
professional English;
 Software: Computer literate - MS Word, PowerPoint, and significant skills of internet’s use;
 Research techniques: qualitative and quantitative methods of research.
 Interests: Public debate: See Rwanda Symposium Event on Rule of Law in Rotterdam University
(Netherlands).

4.  Personal motivation: hard-working, eager to always learning, sharing knowledge and good
practices, honesty, openness and transparency