Rwanda
Law relating to Protection of Disabled Persons in General
Law 1 of 2007
- Published in Official Gazette special on 21 May 2007
- Assented to on 20 January 2007
- Commenced on 21 May 2007
- [This is the version of this document from 21 May 2007.]
Chapter One
General provisions
Article One
This law protects disabled persons in general.Without prejudice to provisions of this law, there may be instituted particular laws protecting persons who are disabled due to various circumstances.Article 2
In this law, disability shall mean the condition of a person's impairment of health ability he or she should have been in possession, and consequently leading to deficiency compared to others.In this law, a disabled person is any individual who was born without congenital abilities like those of others or one who was deprived of such abilities due to disease, accident, conflict or any other reasons which may cause disability.An order of the Minister in charge of Health shall determine modalities of how disabled persons are put in basic categories according to their disabilities in order to help various organs to guarantee them special rights they require.Article 3
Every disabled person shall be entitled to equal rights with others persons before the law. He or she shall be respected and be entitled to human dignity.Article 4
Centres or associations which cater for disabled persons are obliged to fulfil the conditions to enable the disabled persons to have a descent living in matters relating to security and health. The centres and associations are required to have sufficient capacity and equipment in order to be able to integrate disabled persons into the social life and to have a role in the development process.The State has the obligation to monitor and support the federations, associations and centres that cater for disabled persons.An Order of the Minister in charge of social affairs shall institute instructions that govern federations, associations and centres that cater for disabled persons.Article 5
A disabled person has the right to live in the family in the same conditions as others.An orphan disabled person and who is unable to live on his or her own shall have a tutor or an adopter or a centre or an association that caters for him or her.An order of the Minister in charge of Social affairs shall determine the modalities of how the State shall assist a disabled person who does not have any person to cater for him or her.Article 6
To be a tutor of a related or a non related disabled person; or for a centre to cater for disabled persons, shall be done in the interest of the disabled person and in the general national interest and it shall not be done on any other interests of the tutor.An order of the Minister in charge of Social Affairs shall institute modalities of regular monitoring of actions of tutors and centres which receive disabled persons.Article 7
A disabled person is entitled to the right of freedom of expression on any general national issues, on any particular issue he or she is concerned with and shall have a role in the national development of his or her country in accordance with his or her capacity.Where possible, disabled persons shall be consulted and they shall give views on activities and services accorded to them.The Coordinator of the federation of the disabled persons at local levels shall participate in the consultative councils elected at those levels.Article 8
A disabled person shall have the right to legal representation like any other person in courts of law as determined by law.The State shall determine the modalities of providing legal aid to the needy disabled persons who are not able to get legal representation.Various organs shall facilitate the disabled persons in acquisition of the required services at any time it is considered necessary.Article 9
A disabled person shall be catered for and assisted particularly in times of conflict, accidents and other disasters.An order of the Minister in charge of Social Affairs shall determine how such assistance shall be rendered.Article 10
The National Human Rights Commission shall provide special procedures of monitoring how rights of a disabled person are respected.Chapter II
Rights of a disabled person in matters related to education
Article 11
A disabled person has the right to appropriate education in respect of the nature of his or her disability.The Government or centres which cater for disabled persons who are not able to study with others, shall provide with them modalities to study in a specialised school and shall have qualified and trained teachers and appropriate equipment.The Minister in charge of Education shall, basing on basic categories of disability determined by the Minister in charge of Health, determine modalities of facilitating the needy disabled persons in ordinary schools and in specialised schools in case of failure to study with others.Article 12
A pupil or a student with disabilities that do not enable him or her to sit exams with fellow schoolmates or in the same manner as others is entitled to the right of sitting for exams in a special manner.Article 13
The Minister in charge of education shall determine modalities of facilitating the needy disabled persons in pursuing education.Chapter III
Rights of a disabled person in health matters
Article 14
The Government shall facilitate a disabled person in getting medical care and prosthesis and orthesis appliances if required.Article 15
The Government has an obligation to provide medical care to a needy disabled person and it shall provide prosthesis and orthesis appliances if required.Article 16
Each centre or association that caters for the disabled persons is obliged to have a department responsible for examination of trauma as well as physico-social counselling.Article 17
An order of the Minister in charge of Health shall determine the modalities of facilitating the disabled persons in matters related to receiving medical care and getting prosthesis and orthesis appliances.Chapter IV
Rights of a disabled person in matters related to employment
Article 18
No discrimination of any form shall be subjected upon a disabled person in matters related to employment.However, a disabled person shall be given greater access to employment opportunities than any other citizen in case of equal capacities or in case of equal marks in competition.Article 19
In case of necessity and only due to interest of employment, a disabled person shall be entitled to a conducive employment environment that does not detract the nature of his or her disability.Article 20
An Order of the Minister in Charge of labour in his or her attributions shall determine the modalities of facilitating the disabled persons in matters related to access to employment opportunities.Chapter V
Rights of a disabled person in matters related to culture, entertainment and sports
Article 21
Centres that cater for the disabled persons and educational institutions in general, are required to have special grounds meant for culture, entertainment and sports and trained tutors.Article 22
Disabled persons are entitled to the right of joining specialised associations related to sports, culture and entertainment.Article 23
A disabled person shall be facilitated in matters related to participation in sports, films, drama and other entertainment.Article 24
An order of the Minister in charge of Sports shall determine the modalities of facilitating the disabled persons in matters related to participation in activities of culture, entertainment and sports.Chapter VI
Rights of a disabled person in matters related to transport and communication and access to infrastructure
Article 25
Buildings in which various services meant for residents are conducted are required to be built in a way such that they facilitate the disabled persons to acquire access to such services.An order of the Minister in charge of infrastructure shall determine when and how it shall be conducted.Article 26
Public transport and communication services are obliged to facilitate the disabled personsGestures, Braille writings and other ways that aid the disabled persons in communication, where possible shall, be used in conferences and meetings, news reading and other public debates.An order of the Minister in charge of Communication and Transport shall determine modalities of facilitating disabled persons in matters relating to communication and transport.Chapter VII
Penalties
Article 27
Any person who exercises any form of discrimination or any form of violence against a disabled person, shall be punished with the heaviest penalty among the penalties provided by the Criminal Code and those of the special laws relating to such a crime.Chapter VIII
Final provisions
Article 28
All previous legal provisions contrary to this law are hereby abrogated.Article 29
This law comes into force on the day of its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda.History of this document
21 May 2007 this version
Commenced
20 January 2007
Assented to