49 Article 20: The Right to Self-determination 1. All peoples shall have the right to existence. They shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to selfdetermination. They shall freely determine their political status and shall pursue their economic and social development according to the policy they have freely chosen. 2. Colonized or oppressed peoples shall have the right to free themselves from the bonds of domination by resorting to any means recognized by the international community. 3. All peoples shall have the right to the assistance of the State Parties to the present Charter in their liberation struggle against foreign domination, be it political, economic or cultural. The Burundian people live on Burundian territory with frontiers which are well marked out and respected by other peoples. From the political point of view the Burundi Constitution is a document which shows how the political institutions are organized and at the same time serves as a reference document. Aided by the democratic system, the Burundians choose their government themselves from the grassroots to the top. The Burundian Parliament recently rejected a law authorizing homosexuality, for in Burundi only heterosexuality is acceptable. This shows the self-determination of the Burundian people where several areas in the life of the country are concerned. The 18 March 2005 Constitution of Burundi, voted in by referendum on 28 February 2005, stipulates in paragraph 7 of its Preamble: « the Burundian people reaffirm their determination to defend the sovereignty and political and economic independence of their country». It also grants considerable freedom of action for the creation of political organizations in its Article 76. The countries of the sub-region have strongly contributed to the restoration of the peace process in Burundi. They have significantly facilitated the signature of the political accords and that of the cease fire between the Government of Burundi and the former parties and armed political movements. Countries like Tanzania, South Africa and Uganda guaranteed the mediation in the armed conflicts which opposed the Government of Burundi and the former parties and armed political movements. Apart from the countries of the sub-region, the entire international community played a major role in helping Burundi recover peace. The Burundian State is not indifferent to the assistance of the State Parties to the present Charter. It supported South Africa in its struggle against the Apartheid system as evidenced by the existing diplomatic relations between the two countries. On the other hand the State of South Africa lent Burundi a strong hand during the peace process.