NAIROBI, 24 October (IRIN) - Rwanda's
transitional assembly has passed a law imposing a maximum two-year prison
term, up to a million-franc (US $2,252) fine and damages on any person
practicing discrimination and segregation in the country, the Rwanda News
Agency reported on Tuesday.
"In my opinion and indeed that
of this honourable house, this organic law is in compliance with our national
development policies and strategies because it provides a flexible framework
that makes it possible and legal to enforce positive discrimination in
favour of vulnerable groups like the Batwa, the disabled and the girl child.
It also gives exclusive employment opportunities to nationals in the national
interest," Vincent Biruta, the parliamentary speaker, said.
The Batwa (or Twa) form 1 percent of Rwanda's 7.3 million people, and the same percentage of Burundi's 6.2 million where they are largely ignored and have little or no representation in high levels of government and state institutions. Biruta promised full enforcement of the law that has been passed as a result of the country's 1994 genocide of between 800,000 and one million Tustis and politically moderate Hutus.
The law defines discrimination as "any act, utterance or writing aimed at depriving a person or group of persons, their rights, by reason of sex, ethnicity, age, race, colour, opinion, religion nationality or origin," Nicholas Shalita, the presidential press secretary, said on Wednesday.
[ENDS]
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