(HRIC) of the University of Bristol-UK and the Association on Prevention of Torture (APT) organized a two days expert working group to discuss the designation of a National Preventive Mechanism. Other consultations took place at national level organized by the Ministry of Justice and currently a draft law establishing the NPM is available in the National Commission for Human Rights. PART III: INFORMATION CONCERNING EACH OF THE RIGHTS, DUTIES AND FREEDOMS IN RELATION TO APPROPRIATE INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES OF THE CHARTER Article 2: Prohibition of Discrimination & Article 3: Right to equality before the law 65. The Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda in its Article 15 provides for the equality and protection from discrimination. It states that “ discrimination of any kind or its propaganda based on, inter alia, ethnic origin, family or ancestry, clan, skin colour or race, sex, region, economic categories, religion or faith are prohibited and punishable by law. 66. It is important to recognize that Rwanda legal system explicitly guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the law. The Rwandan Constitution states that all citizens are born and remain free and equal in rights and duties. The Rwandan Constitution further stipulates that discrimination of whatever kind based on, inter alia, ethnic origin, tribe, clan, colour, sex, region, social origin, religion or faith, opinion, economic status, culture, language, social status, physical or mental disability or any other form of discrimination is prohibited and punishable by law.9 67. This is reinforced by the Code of ethics for Judiciary which binds the judge to serve the cause of justice with fidelity, integrity, objectivity and impartiality without any discrimination whatsoever, particularly with regard to race, colour, origin, ethnic group, clan, sex, opinion, religion, or social status. 10 The Code of Criminal Procedure provides for the right to legal representation and Article 16 of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 2003 revised in 2015 Article 12 of the Law N° 09/2004 of 27/04/2004 establishing the code of ethics for judiciary, O.G No 11 of 1st June 2004. 9 10 Page 26 of 105