The Human Rights League in the Great Lakes (LDGL) in collaboration with the European Commission and the Dutch embassy yesterday revealed that over 600 Rwanda children are deprived of their rights.

During an occasion to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Wednesday, participants noted that majority of children deprived of their rights are those raised in prisons alongside their mothers.

"These children are not a danger to society, it is important to keep them out of prisons such that they can fully exercise their rights to education, health and a good life. In prison children can not get any better when they live alongside criminals,” Frans Makken, the Dutch Ambassador to Rwanda said during the event that took place at Ninzi Hotel.

The panel held discussions that mainly focused on women’s rights, children’s rights and right to land. According to Immaculée Mukankubito, the second Deputy Director of the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace (IRDP), most women’s rights are not observed because majority of them especially those in the rural areas are ignorant about them.

"Poverty is also a big issue because many are not able to access information through news such that they can fully understand what to fight for,” she added.

Rwanda’s economy is also still developing, with  a good number of women are also involved so they concentrate on working hard and never have time to understand and fight for what is rightfully theirs. During the discussions, it was also noted that land rights need to be revised such that every farmer benefits.

"There should not be too many restrictions that limit people from being productive and people should be able to raise their voices and speak out without fear,” Ambassador Makken added.  

The event coincided with the end of the16-day campaign of advocacy against Gender Based Violence (GBV) which started last month.

The 60th anniversary celebrations mainly focused on the issues to do with women, children and land rights because these are pertinent issues to Rwanda. 

The panellists observed that Rwanda is developing at a very fast rate making it important to address the human rights issue as well such that everyone is able to exercise their rights and participate in economic development.

Makken also thanked the Rwandan government for its efforts towards promoting human rights as he related to the laws that have been passed concerning land, women and children rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed and officially adopted on December 10, 1948.

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