interest of public in relation to the location of open-air meetings and the route
of movement of demonstrators or, for the protection of democratic rights,
public morality and peace during such a meeting or demonstration. This
right does not give exemption from liability under laws enacted to protect the
well-being of the youth or the honour and reputation of individuals, and
laws prohibiting any propaganda for war and any public expression of
opinions intended to injure human dignity.
Article 12: Freedom of Movement, exit, re-entry and asylum
104. Article 26 of the Constitution stipulates that any citizen or foreign national
lawfully in Rwanda has, within the national territory, the right to liberty of
movement and freedom to choose his residence as well as the freedom to
leave the country at any time he wishes to. Any Rwandan national has the
right to return to his/her country. A person may only be prohibited from
departing by an order of a court given in accordance with the law.
105. In April 2010, the Government established a new Ministry of Disaster
Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR), which is expected to provide
more attention to issues related to refugees and disasters. The Ministry has
been vital in steering the campaign that encourages voluntary repatriation
and reintegration of refugees and asylum seekers. The Government of
Rwanda has enacted Law No 41/2015 of 29/08/2015 relating to Disaster
Management and the law no 13/2014 of 21/05/ 2014 relating to refugees.
Rwanda remains committed to a number of international instruments related
to refugees and internally displaced persons:
- Convention relating to the status of Refugees adopted on 28 July 1951
by the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Status of
Refugees and Stateless Persons
- The Protocol relating to the Convention Status of Refugees of 31st
January 1967, ratified by the Republic of Rwanda by the Decree Law
No 29/79 of 22 October 1979,
- The OAU Convention of 10/09/1969 Governing specific problems of
refugees in Africa, ratified by the Republic of Rwanda by the DecreeLaw No30/79 of 22 October 1979
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