35. For many years Rwanda has hosted many refugee communities from
neighboring countries, especially Burundi and DRC. Rwanda accords
the refugees all the necessary protection in accordance with
international law and regulations. The Government works closely with
national and international agencies and NGOs to provide services to
refugee women and girls.
36. Women in refugee camps have been trained on various issues including
GBV and have been trained in skills to enable them to make some
income to improve their livelihoods. Rwanda has also received a
number of Rwandans returning from neighboring countries, either as
voluntarily repatriated refugees or those expelled from neighbouring
countries, such as recent waves from Tanzania in 2013. Special
consideration is given to women and girls as most at risk of
vulnerability. One stop centres have also been established in refugee
camps and gender based violence focal points put in refugee camps as a
strategy to liaise with stakeholders providing GBV service providers.
Article 5: Elimination of Harmful Practices
37. The elimination of discrimination against the girl-child is enshrined in
the Rwanda National Constitution (2003) revised in 2015, which
reaffirms in its Article 10(4)equality before the law between men and
women, boys and girls, and the fundamental rights of all citizens of
Rwanda, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and other international human rights instruments.
38. On this basis, progressive laws that support the elimination of
discrimination against girls have been passed, including: The new law
Nº27/2016 of 08/07/2016 governing matrimonial regimes, donations
and successions. This law is of particular relevance to eliminating
discrimination against girls, because it reverses patriarchal inheritance,
marriage and other negative practices; Organic law No.08/2005,
determining the use and Management of Land in Rwanda abrogated
and replaced by the Law No 43/2013 of 16/06/2013. This is equally
important for the same reasons cited above.
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