Children born behind bars to enjoy full rights

KIGALI - Children born by incarcerated parents in different correctional facilities across the country will now be placed in foster homes. This was revealed by the Minister for Gender and Family Promotion, Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya in a recent interview with The New Times. “The operation started this year and our aim is to take all children above 3 years out of prison so we can place them in various foster homes, take them to their relatives or place them in orphanages,” said the Minister. She added: “It is not right to take a baby from its mother unless it is three years and above but so far it is going on well,” She said. The move comes after human rights activists revealed late last year that over 600 children in Rwanda especially those born in prison are deprived of their rights. During the celebrations to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Frans Makken, the Dutch Ambassador to Rwanda, had advised that children cannot get any better if they live alongside criminals. He also added that they should be kept out of prison since they are harmless to society and deserve to exercise their rights fully. Children’s rights pay particular attention to the rights of special protection and care afforded to the young, including their right to association with biological parents, human identity, basic needs like food, education and health facilities among others. Ends

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Children born behind bars to enjoy full rights