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Rwanda: Horizon
Community Association of
Rwanda (HOCA) reports
Also
see:
Gay Rwanda
2005 story
Gay Rwanda 2008 story
Behind
the Mask LGBT African website
Rwanda News & Reports
1 Horizon Community
Association of
Rwanda HOCA
Rwanda : Background and Activities (2007)
2
In
Defense of Rwandan Homosexuals--Letter to editor of Kigali New
Times newspaper (2007)
3
The Treatment of LGBT Individuals in Rwandan Law and Society-Overview
of the
Situation (2007)
1
Horizon
Community Association of
Rwanda HOCA
Rwanda
Background and Activities
Lesbians and gays in Rwanda face discrimination and hardship on a daily
basis, which has a profound impact on their quality of life. Though
homosexuality is not against the law in Rwanda, many individuals find
themselves harassed, threatened, imprisoned or abused because of their
sexual orientation. Discrimination, and even physical violence, are
a daily reality for many of those who are open about their sexual orientation,
and as a result, many gays and lesbians live a secretive life, unable
to tell their families or friends about their sexual orientation.
There
is a lack of social services targeting the gay and lesbian community,
as Rwandan society and the Rwandan government prefers to deny or
ignore the existence of a gay and lesbian community.
HOCA was formed to address these challenges. HOCA is an association
of gay and lesbian Rwandans that now comprises 17 members. Though
still small, even its existence is a remarkable accomplishment. The
members
find solidarity, can share their experiences, and can look out for
one another’s safety. HOCA also serves as a platform on which
to advocate for LGBT rights and to sensitize society to the challenges
that gays and lesbians face.
HOCA Activities
Defense of Human Rights- Many of HOCA’s members have
experienced serious violations of their human rights because of their
sexual orientation.
Several members have been illegally detained by the police and have
spent time in prison. One had his identity papers destroyed. And,
in an extreme example, one member was tragically murdered because of
his
sexual orientation. For our members, fear of attack or of having
our rights denied is a daily reality. For this reason, HOCA will work
to protect the rights of its members
and of other members of the LGBT community. We have been in contact
with international human rights groups, such as the IGLHRC, who have
offered their support in the case of serious human rights violations.
At the local level, we plan to make contact with local lawyers and
other human rights defenders who can be of immediate assistance when
rights violations occur. We also plan to form a small legal defense
fund to be used for emergency legal fees and related expenses.
Advocacy and Activism- Gays and lesbians experience severe stigma
and discrimination within their communities. Though most keep a low
profile,
the issue of homosexuality is continually in the press and discussed
in public forums in a way that entrenches stereotypes and misconceptions,
and reinforces discrimination. HOCA has already engaged in advocacy
by writing letters to the editor of a major newspaper addressing
issues of LGBT rights. We plan to scale up our advocacy and activism
activities
through media outreach, advocacy on LGBT rights issues, and sensitization
campaigns within the community.
Networking with LGBT Groups in Africa and Further Abroad- HOCA already
has established relationships with other LGBT organizations across
Africa, including the Coalition of African Lesbians. These relationships
are extremely important for launching advocacy initiatives across
the continent and for sharing strategies and lessons from our respective
countries. We plan to continue these efforts by organizing and attending
conferences and capacity building seminars in other countries, with
objective of building the advocacy and leadership skills of our members.
We also plan to organize further study tours for our members to visit
other countries and network with LGBT groups there.
Outreach and Recruitment of Members- HOCA is now a small organization,
but we plan to increase our membership by reaching out to other LGBTs
across the country. We will hold recruitment events for members and
guests, and will target areas such as universities to encourage new
members to join.
Social Support for Members- Many LGBT individuals live extremely
isolated lives, and would benefit from the support of a social network
of other
LGBTs who can offer emotional support, and share life experiences.
We would like to organize networks, such as protected and anonymous
chat rooms or websites where individuals can meet one another. We
also plan to engage in other social sensitization activities, such
as on
HIV prevention and other health issues. We have established a relationship
with CHAMP, an HIV/AIDS prevention organization, who is interested
to partner with us on HIV prevention activities. We also would like
to establish a social support fund to help members in emergency situations,
such as when a member is evicted from their housing, or expelled
from their families. Such a fund existed in the past through membership
fees, but was discontinued because many of our members were unable
to afford the fees.
Institutional Development- We plan to conduct a number of activities
to strengthen HOCA as an organization, such a electing and training
council members and developing a strategic plan for the organization.
We also plan to establish a website to share news of the organization
and to publicize our activities.
2
In
Defense of Rwandan Homosexuals--Letter to editor of Kigali New
Times newspper (2007)
By
Ruzindana
As we celebrate the 60th declaration of international human rights
day, Horizon Community Association is proud to partner with different
stakeholders in promoting the human rights of sexual minorities in
Rwanda.
Homosexuality is not a new phenomenon in the world, and neither is
it in Rwanda. We have many myths about homosexuals, and we
sometimes think we have no homosexuals in Rwanda, yet they are all around us.
Many religious and traditionalists claim that homosexuality is a new
practice that resulted from modernization and the import of western
cultural ideas into the country. However, many elders admit that homosexuality
has existed since even before the beginning of colonial rule. What
has changed, however, is the ability of homosexuals to come out of
the closet and be open about their sexual orientation.
Articles appearing in this newspaper have portrayed homosexuals in
a negative way, as amoral individuals, or criminals, out to recruit
and corrupt young people and even to take advantage of children.
This is far from the truth. The homosexuals in this country could
not be
closer to ‘typical’ Rwandese: some are doctors, lawyers,
artists, even football players for the Nation. They work hard every
day to contribute to the country’s well-being and development.
Rwanda’s law is currently silent about homosexuality: neither
the 2003 Constitution nor the 1977 penal code make mention of any crime
related to homosexual relationships. Though the Constitution denies
homosexuals the right to marry, limiting marriage to civil monogamous
marriage between a man and a woman, the Constitution does not restrict
or prohibit sexual behavior between consenting same sex partners.
Nonetheless, homosexuals have been subjected to harassment and imprisonment
on the basis of their private sexual practices. A number of recent
cases illustrate this point. Individuals have been arrested and put
in prison, accused of homosexuality, and had their names, pictures,
and places of employment published in the newspaper and broadcast on
the radio. When one young man went to the police station to report
that he had been gang raped by a group of men upon leaving a nightclub,
the police instead imprisoned the victim because of his sexual orientation.
Others
have been expelled from their housing or had their identity documents
destroyed because they were accused of homosexuality. These
examples violate the rights and freedoms of individuals as guaranteed
by the law, which upholds an individual’s freedom from discrimination,
procedural rights, and right to privacy.
Whether or not you believe that homosexuality is sin, I think that
everyone in this world can agree with me that every person should
have his or her fundamental rights respected and upheld regardless
of his
or her identity. These rights are enshrined in a number of
human rights declarations and even in the Constitution of Rwanda. When
citizens
feel threatened in their homes, targeted by hate crimes, and mocked
in the media, it not only violates the rights of individuals but
also hurts the quest for unity and tolerance in the country. Rwanda
has
worked so hard to embrace unity and reconciliation, let us not fall
back into the evils of discrimination.
Given the hardship already experienced by sexual minority groups
in Rwanda, gays and lesbian Rwandese as well as their supporters, oppose
any efforts to amend the law or the penal code to criminalize homosexuality.
Institutionalizing discrimination against individuals on the basis
of their sexual orientation not only violates the fundamental principles
and freedoms outlined in the Constitution of the Nation, but also
sets a dangerous precedent for discrimination and division in a country
that has battled these issues for many decades. I am sure that gays
and lesbians living among us are our own people and deserve the same
respect and protection under the Republic of Rwandan law.
Acknowledging the reality of homosexuality in Rwanda is not only
important in protecting individual human rights. It is also imperative
to the
country’s fight against HIV and AIDS. We might think that because
homosexuality is ‘invisible’ in Rwanda, that the presence
of these individuals does not have any consequences. Yet gay men are
a key population in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and one of the
populations with the highest prevalence rates. Apart from homosexual
men in relationships with other men, there are many men, who, because
of fear of being identified, are forced to marry women. In this way,
HIV is transferred between the homosexual community and the heterosexual
community, spreading the disease.
Though the society may choose to deny the existence of gays and lesbians,
wouldn’t it be better to embrace them as they are and to stop
marginalizing them in the fight against the HIV and AIDS? These Rwandese
are very involved in all the activities and programmes of the Nation.
Let us provide them the treatment they lack, and include them in the
innovative programmes of Government.
This is a call to action for human rights defenders, both inside
and outside of the country, to stand up for individuals whose
rights are
being abused on the basis of their sexual orientation, and for the
government to take action to ensure that these individual’s rights
are protected. Though we have long been quiet, tolerating daily forms
of abuse, this day serves as a reminder of how far we have yet to come
to realize the full promise of human rights for all in this country.
The Writer is Feminist and a human rights defender
HORIZON
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION OF RWANDA (HOCA)
3
The Treatment of LGBT Individuals in Rwandan Law and Society-Overview
of the
Situation (2007)
By
Ruzindana
Homosexuality is not a new phenomenon in Rwanda. Though many traditionalists
claim that homosexuality is a “new” practice that has resulted
from modernization and the import of western cultural ideas into the country,
many
people of older generations admit that the practice has existed since
they can remember. What has changed, however, is the ability
of sexual minority groups
to come together, to form alliances for solidarity, and to begin to advocate
for their rights. Moreover, the open expression of homosexuality, though still
restricted in many ways, has been a very recent event in Rwanda and across
the African continent.
Despite the emergence of a small, though largely underground, movement to begin
advocating the rights of sexual minority groups, many in Rwanda continue
to deny the existence of homosexuality in the country, or restrict its reach to
limited
segments of the population. According to Edwin Musoni of the New Times newspaper, “Presently,
there are fewer cases of homosexuality in Rwanda compared to other neighbouring
countries. The few cases of the vice in Rwanda have been reported in prisons,
Nyamirambo Sector, Biryogo Cell and they especially involve youths.” Moreover,
many claim that the emergence of homosexuality in Rwanda is a recent development,
which they claim is contrary to Rwandese culture.
As these debates begin to enter the public domain, it is important to understand
the current situation faced by gays and lesbians in the country from a rights-based
perspective and to understand what exactly the law says about homosexuality,
discrimination and individual rights in the context of sexual orientation.
Overview of Relevant Laws
Rwanda’s law is currently silent on the issue of homosexuality: neither
the 2003 Constitution nor the 1977 Penal Code make mention of any crime related
to homosexuality. Sexual offenses are outlined in the 1977 Penal Code, and include
rape, rape of children, sexual torture, adultery, prostitution, and exhibitionism.
While homosexual acts involving either sex are punishable if one participant
is under the age of 18 and the other is older, as provided in section 362 of
the Penal Code, no provision exists for the criminalization of sexual acts between
consenting adults. Article 26 of the 2003 Constitution does limit the right to
marriage to heterosexual couples, stating that, “Only civil monogamous
marriage between a man and a woman is recognized.” Yet this restriction
on marriage in no way implies a limitation on sexual behavior between consenting
same-sex partners.
Not only does the law fail to specifically prohibit homosexual acts, but the
Constitution also contains a number of articles which guarantee the right to
privacy, opinion and belief, which supports the right to freedom and privacy
with regards to an individual’s personal life and sexual practices. Article
22 of the 2003 Constitution states that: “The private life, family, home
or correspondence of a person shall not be subjected to arbitrary interference;
his or her honour and good reputation shall be respected.” Moreover, Article
33 guarantees that, “Freedom of thought, opinion, conscience, religion,
worship and the public manifestation thereof is guaranteed by the State in
accordance with conditions determined by law.”
These fundamental rights and freedoms are guaranteed by the Constitution, so
long as these rights do not violate other laws or the freedoms of others, as
stipulated in the Constitution, Penal Code and Organic Laws of the country.
Article 43 states that, “In the exercise of rights and enjoyment of freedoms, every
person shall only be subjected to the limitations set by the law in order to
ensure the recognition and respect of others’ rights and freedoms, good
morals, public order and social welfare which characterize a democratic society.”
Some
lawmakers have interpreted Article 43 to suggest that it is within their
power to restrict or criminalize homosexuality under their
Constitutional power to
uphold the “good morals” of society. However, a strong argument can
be made against such a broad interpretation of the law, which would give sweeping
powers to law-enforcement and judicial authorities to determine what is deemed ‘moral’ within
the society. Such powers would normally be reserved for lawmakers, and should
be explicitly legislated within the country’s laws. An overly-broad interpretation
of this article could lead to a wide-spread denial of rights if misused.
Rwanda’s Constitution also contains strong provisions to protect individuals
and groups from discrimination. Article 11 of the Constitution states that, “All
Rwandans are born and remain free and equal in rights and duties. 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.”
Moreover,
Article 46 states that, “Every
citizen has the duty to relate to other persons without discrimination and to
maintain relations conducive to safeguarding, promoting and reinforcing mutual
respect, solidarity and tolerance.” Together, these articles uphold the
right of every citizen to be free from discrimination, and vest every citizen
with the duty to refrain from discriminating against others. Though sexual orientation
is not specifically included in the list of characteristics for which discrimination
is illegal and prohibited, the law is written to be inclusive of all forms of
discrimination related to an individual’s identity, which should be interpreted
to include one’s sexual orientation.
Inciting or promoting discrimination against others is also prohibited
under the Constitution. Article 33 states that, “Propagation of ethnic, regional,
racial or discrimination or any other form of division is punishable by law.” Moreover,
specific duties are assigned to the institution of the press under Article 34,
which states that, “Freedom of the press and freedom of information are
recognized and guaranteed by the State. Freedom of speech and freedom of information
shall not prejudice public order and good morals, the right of every citizen
to honour, good reputation and the privacy of personal and family life. It is
also guaranteed so long as it does not prejudice the protection of the youth
and minors.”
The Constitution
vests oversight responsibility with the High Council of the
Press to monitor the media’s compliance with these limitations
on press freedom. Thus, any effort to promote or incite discrimination or hatred
against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation violates the state’s
guarantee of non-discrimination, particularly when such discriminatory or inflammatory
statements are propagated by members of the press using media outlets.
Finally, some advocates of laws to criminalize homosexuality argue that
the state should prohibit the practice as part of the state’s obligation to protect
the values and cultural traditions of the country. Proponents of this limitation
argue that homosexuality is not a part of Rwanda’s cultural heritage, and
as a result, it should not be accepted. This argument, apart from erroneously
claiming that homosexuality has not always existed within the culture, also overlooks
the state’s obligation to ensure that the traditions it
promotes adhere to the human rights principles and fundamental freedoms
guaranteed within the
Constitution.
Article
51 states that, “The State has the duty to safeguard
and to promote positive values based on cultural traditions and practices so
long as they do not conflict with human rights, public order and good morals.
The State equally has the duty to preserve the national cultural heritage as
well as genocide memorials and sites.“ Thus, the cultural values protected
by the State must not conflict with human rights protections guaranteed elsewhere
in the Constitution, invalidating the claim that homosexuality should be criminalized
on the basis that it is contrary to the culture and traditional values of the
country.
Overview of the Current Situation
Keeping in mind the above discussion of the fundamental rights and freedoms
guaranteed to individuals, the increasing level of harassment and intimidation
in the country
around the issue of homosexuality, and recent incidents in which the rights
of individuals were violated because of their sexual orientation, are clearly
in
violation of the rights and freedoms guaranteed to individuals by the constitution.
Threats of Legal Changes
In recent months, there has been an increase in rhetoric within the press
on the subject of criminalizing homosexuality in the country. Rwanda’s Government
is in the process of revising the country’s penal code, which dates from
1977, for the primary purpose of abolishing the death penalty. In the process,
it plans to revise many other outdated provisions of the penal code. Several
members of Parliament and other individuals have expressed the intention to
introduce a law to criminalize homosexuality, though it is unclear whether
such reforms
have a high level of support from other lawmakers or from the public.
For example, Deputy Francis Kaboneka is quoted as saying, "We don't have
a specific law on homosexuality, but we have a family law which states that a
person only gets married to another person of the opposite sex." Though
he thought that there were not yet many cases of homosexuality in the country,
he added: "We need to have a law against this vice."
Similarly, according to the New Times newspaper, Deputy Henriette Sebera
argued, “that
MPs should table a motion on it and come up with a law against the practice of
homosexuality in Rwanda.” She said, "Homosexuality is automatically
illegal in our country; our culture only allows a man to have a relationship
with a woman, and that is why anybody caught in that act should be punished."
Finally, Deputy Ezekias Rwabuhihi is quoted as saying that, "As society
changes then the laws should always be changing, too. The constitution states
it clearly that a man gets married to one woman nothing more than that; whoever
comes up with something different should considered a criminal."
Other government officials have been quoted making statements that would
imply that they view homosexuality as a right that is not guaranteed by the
Constitution,
suggesting their support for such attempts at criminalization. When asked
whether the prisons in Rwanda should distribute condoms in order to address
the problem
of HIV transmission inside prison walls, Balinda Steven, the Director of
Prisons in Rwanda, said, “I think that distribution of condoms
to prisoners would be disastrous gesture. We would be giving them the right to homosexuality. I
have had discussions with a few prison directors and we agreed to maintain our
control systems.” In addition to being contrary to Rwandan law, which
does not forbid homosexuality, such policy decisions violate other fundamental
rights
guaranteed in the Constitution, including the right to health and ultimately,
the right to life.
As the issues of homosexuality and gay rights gain prominence within the
media, there is legitimate concern that calls to criminalize homosexuality
will gain
momentum and support. This is a crucial time for targeted advocacy with lawmakers
who support upholding the right to sexual privacy and freedom, in order to
prevent discriminatory or regressive laws from being passed.
Increasing Discussion of Homosexuality in the Media
A number of articles have recently appeared in newspapers around the country,
highlighting voices from various sides of the debate on homosexuality and
homosexual rights. This increased attention to the issue of homosexuality
in Rwanda is most
likely the result of the situation of homosexuals in Uganda, where the
government and courts have denied appeals of homosexuals and advocacy groups
for recognition
and protection of their basic rights. This ongoing situation has been extensively
covered and debated in the Rwandan press though, encouragingly, opinions
on both sides of this debate have been published.
In addition to lawmakers who have begun to speak of their support for criminalization,
other prominent figures have made public statements condemning homosexuality
and homosexual rights. Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, the head of Rwanda's
Anglican Church and an influential figure in Rwanda’s social and political spheres,
said: "Even when the government decides to legalize homosexuality our church
will not accept it its totally illegal and un-Godly." He went on to say
that homosexuality is against Rwandan culture and the government should not adopt
it. "Man was meant to reproduce and something contrary to that is destruction," Kolini
said. By using such strong language as “destruction” Kolini sets
a dangerous tone for the discussion of homosexuality in the country.
The use of such inflammatory language and arguments are evident in some of
the more disturbing articles that have appeared in the press over the last
several
months. In an article entitled “Can Rwanda Tolerate Homosexuality,” the
author, Gasheegu Muramila compares homosexuality to “moral genocide,” and
accuses those who practice homosexuality of harboring “genocidal ideology.”
The
author’s argument is that homosexuality is against the natural order,
as humans were intended to reproduce; he equates homosexuality
with genocide by
claiming that homosexuals are opposed to continuation of the species. By using
such a sensitive and politically inflammatory term to describe homosexuals
is dangerous in an environment as fragile and sensitive as post-genocide Rwanda.
Other articles, meant to breed hatred and contempt for homosexuals, have compared
homosexuals to rapists, child molesters, or other sorts of sexual predators,
claiming they target vulnerable individuals and are a threat to the safety
of
society. These extremist opinions have the effect of reinforcing biased and
discriminatory attitudes within the minds of the public.
Incitement to Violence
Even more dangerously, journalists have been using the media to incite
violence and discrimination against homosexuals. In a recent incident,
a radio broadcaster named Kenny from the radio station Flash FM aired messages over a one-week
period in which he discussed the fact that homosexual activists had attended
a conference
in Nairobi to network with other LGBT groups and were organizing themselves
to begin advocating for their rights. He warned about the danger that these
individuals
posed within the society, and called upon the public to hunt down
homosexuals within their communities, and to find the people who are helping homosexuals
to advocate for the vice, especially their leaders and partners. When someone
called into the program and asked what to do when they found one of the
activists, the announcer told the man to “burn them.”
Furthermore,
the broadcaster announced the names, places of work and residence,
and physical descriptions
of 3 of the activists: Bebe working at a salon in Nyamirambo, Bebos working
at a motor garage as a mechanic and Shema. Bebos' workplace was searched
and her
residence as well.
As a result of this threat, 2 of the members whose names had been broadcast
were flown out of the country to Uganda with the assistance of IGLHRC and
SMUG. 10
other members fled to Uganda over the next few weeks, and are still living
there.
Arbitrary Detentions and Abuse of Justice Institutions
Over recent months, many homosexuals in the country have been arbitrarily
detained by the police or have been denied their rights by the authorities
because of
their sexual orientation.
Recently, Patrick Ngoga, a HOCA member, was arbitrarily arrested
by the police in the area of Gikondo, in Kabuga cell. He was picked up by two
men wearing
civilian clothes and carrying police badges, and the first thing that these
men did was
to break his SIM card so he couldn’t get in touch with anyone. The men
arrested Patrick and accused him of being a homosexual, and of attending conferences
outside of the country to get information and spread stories about Rwanda.
He was held in prison for several days and denied access to a lawyer,
but was never
formally charged. He was released after another member who knew where Patrick
was being held approached the police authorities along with two other activists,
and negotiated his release in exchange for a payment. When Patrick was released
from prison, he had been severely beaten and was traumatized, and left for
Uganda shortly thereafter.
Another such episode of arbitrary and illegal detention was reported by
a young Congolese man living in Kigali. One night, when he was leaving
a Kigali
nightclub,
he was jumped in the parking lot by three men. They forced him into the
back of a car and gang raped him. A few days later, he went to the police
to report
the crime, and instead of investigating his case, the police arrested
the man for being homosexual and put him in prison. He was released one week
later, but
the rape was never reported or investigated.
Another member of HOCA was detained by the police in Gikondo area
of Kigali and held in prison for three months. He was accused of homosexuality, though
never
formally charged or given access to a lawyer. During this time, his name,
address and picture were broadcast on TV, in newspapers and on the radio.
As a result,
he continues to face harassment and threats from individuals within his
community.
Another member had his identity card confiscated by the local police, and
it was ripped into pieces. When he went to the office of the local authorities
to
request to have a new card issued, the local authorities came up with a
number of bureaucratic hurdles that have prevented him from getting a new
identity
card.
One woman living in the Nyamirambo area of Kigali was chased out of her
house by the landlord and the local authorities when rumors were spread
about her
sexual orientation. As a result, she had difficulty finding accommodation
and has been
harassed by neighbors and others within the community.
These examples illustrate the level of discrimination and ongoing rights
violations that LGBT individuals within Rwanda face. Though there is no
law criminalizing
homosexuality, and Rwanda has clear procedural guarantees in place to govern
practices for the detention, arrest, trial and sentencing of individuals
accused of crimes, violation of these procedures seems to be commonplace
for homosexuals.
As a result, gays and lesbians live in legitimate fear of harassment and
illegal rights violations by the police, government authorities, and individuals
in their
communities.
Summary/Conclusion
The worsening situation of gays and lesbians in Rwanda poses a
serious threat to the security and freedom of individuals in
the country, and warrants
immediate
attention. Particularly alarming has been the recent use of the media
to advocate violence against individuals because of their sexual
orientation,
and a seeming
increase in arbitrary detention of individuals on the same basis. Rather
than protecting the rights of gays and lesbians in the country, certain
authorities have chosen to abuse their power in violation of the rights
of these individuals.
Police officers and other officials must investigate and immediately
put an end to illegal detentions of homosexuals, and must ensure that
their
safety and rights
are being protected in their communities. The constitution clearly protects
the privacy of individuals and in no way suggests that homosexuality
be considered a criminal offense. Moreover, there are strong protections
in
place against
discrimination
and abuse of individual or group rights, which must be respected. There
is also an urgent need for activism to encourage the government to immediately
stop and
punish any individuals who abuse the press as a tool to incite violence
or
discrimination against individuals, particularly given the painful past
of Rwanda, when the
radio was used to incite the population to commit genocide.
Finally,
there is an urgent need for well-planned and targeted advocacy to
oppose an
amendment to the penal code to criminalize homosexuality. Institutionalizing
discrimination
against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation not only
violates the fundamental principles and freedoms outlined in the constitution
of
the country,
but also sets a dangerous precedent for discrimination and division
in a country that has battled these issues for many decades.
This is a call to action for human rights defenders, both inside and
outside of the country, to stand up for individuals whose rights
are being abused
on the basis of their sexual orientation, and for the government to
take action
to ensure that these individual’s rights are protected.
Yours in Solidarity
Ruzindana
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