Rwanda
Law relating to Human Reproductive Health
Law 21 of 2016
- Published in Official Gazette 23 on 6 June 2016
- Assented to on 20 May 2016
- Commenced on 6 June 2016
- [This is the version of this document from 6 June 2016.]
Chapter One
General provisions
Article One – Purpose of this Law
This Law relates to human reproductive health.Article 2 – Definitions of terms
For the purpose of this Law, the following terms have the following meanings:1°family planning: a way for people to attain their desired number of children and to avoid unwanted pregnancies, taking into account the welfare of the child, mother and family;2°human reproductive health services: services provided by health facilities, varied centers with staff that have the relevant qualifications and other persons trained by the responsible Ministry;3°human reproductive health: a state of human physical, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system and its functions and processes;4°incapable person: a child or a person with mental disability;5°child: any person who is under eighteen (18) years old.Article 3 – Key components of human reproductive health
Key components of human reproductive health are the following:1°safe delivery for the mother and the new-born;2°care of the new-born;3°family planning;4°prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS;5°prevention and treatment of other infections that are harmful to human reproductive health;6°prevention and treatment of infertility;7°prevention of gender-based violence and care for victims thereof;8°raising awareness with the aim of attitudinal change.Article 4 – Authority to monitor and supervise human reproductive health-related activities
The Ministry in charge of health has the authority to monitor human reproductive health-related activities.A Prime Minister’s Order determines the role of other institutions in activities related to human reproductive health.Chapter II
Rights in terms of human reproductive health
Article 5 – Equal rights to human reproductive health
All persons have equal rights in relation to human reproductive health.No person shall be denied such rights based on any form of discrimination.Article 6 – Right of a pregnant woman, a woman who has given birth and the new-born
A pregnant woman, a woman who has given birth and a new-born have the right to be cared for so as to ensure their well being.Article 7 – Right to decide
Subject to provisions of other laws, every person having attained the majority age has the right to decide for oneself in relation to human reproductive health issues.Article 8 – Right of access to education and medical services
Every person has the right of access to education and medical services related to human reproductive health.Article 9 – Right not to be subjected to any act likely to be harmful to human reproductive health
Every person has the right not to be subjected to any experiment or any other act likely to be harmful to human reproductive health.Article 10 – Right in terms of HIV/AIDS testing
Every person has the right to voluntarily undergo HIV/AIDS test and have his/her results in secret.No person shall undergo unconsented HIV/AIDS testing. However, mandatory testing may be required upon request by competent organs in accordance with law.A medical doctor or any other health professional may, if necessary, perform HIV/AIDS testing on an incapable person subject to consent by that person’s biological parent, guardian or caretaker.Article 11 – HIV/AIDS infected person’s right to services and medical care
An HIV/AIDS infected person has the right to services and necessary medical care consonant with his/her disease conditions and taking into account the national financial capability.Chapter III
Obligations relating to human reproductive health
Section One – Obligations of individuals
Article 12 – Avoidance of any harm against one’s human reproductive health and that of the others
Regarding human reproductive health, every person has the obligation to:1ºavoid anything that can harm his/her personal reproductive health, that of his/her family and that of others;2ºtake care of a pregnant woman, a woman who has recently given birth and a new-born;3ºprotect and safeguard human reproductive health of an elderly person, a person with disability or a person incapable of making his/her own decision.Article 13 – Self-protection and protection of others against sexually transmitted diseases
Every person has the obligation to protect himself/herself and protect others against sexually transmitted diseases.Any discrimination or stigmatization against a person infected with HIV/AIDS is prohibited.Article 14 – Discussion with children about human reproductive health
Every biological parent or guardian has the duty to discuss with the children about human reproductive health.Section 2 – Obligations of the Government, public institutions, other institutions in charge of human reproductive health and partners
Article 15 – Obligations of the Government to promote human reproductive health
In order to promote human reproductive health, the Government has the following obligations:1ºto establish a human reproductive health policy;2ºto coordinate all activities relating to human reproductive health;3ºto establish a specific unit in charge of human reproductive health in each hospital and health centre with medicines, equipment and other means necessary to fulfil its mission;4ºto sensitize and assist pregnant women to deliver at health facilities and play their role in taking decisions on human reproductive health;5ºto help destitute persons and incapable persons have access to human reproductive health services;6ºto train on a regular basis health professionals, community health workers, teachers, authorities of decentralized administrative entities, the private sector and the youth on human reproductive health;7ºto sensitize all employer institutions to encourage their staff to know about human reproductive health;8ºto build partnerships with the private sector in activities related to human reproductive health and monitor their implementation by other partners;9ºto conduct and publish research on human reproductive health;10ºto perform any other activity that may promote human reproductive health.Article 16 – Care for a pregnant woman, a woman giving birth, a woman who has given birth and a new-born
The Government, public institutions and other institutions providing human reproductive health services have the obligation to take care of a pregnant woman, a woman giving birth, a woman who has given birth and a new-born.Article 17 – Providing necessary medicines and health services closer to those in need thereof
The Government, public institutions and other institutions in charge of human reproductive health have the obligation to provide necessary medicines and health services close to any person in need thereof for him/her to have good reproductive health.Article 18 – Provision of good services related to human reproductive health
Public servants, the staff of public institutions and other institutions providing services related to human reproductive health are required to provide good customer care and give to clients fast and high quality service without any discrimination.Article 19 – Education in schools regarding human reproductive health
The educational curricula of different categories of schools and literacy centres must provide courses on human reproductive health.An Order of the Minister in charge of education determines modalities for the implementation of the provisions of this article.Article 20 – Public awareness about family planning
The Government, public institutions, institutions in charge of human reproductive health and other partners have the following obligations:1ºraising public awareness on the adoption of family planning and bringing close to the people all the necessary materials enabling them to make it for their welfare;2ºsensitizing spouses to have common understanding for their cooperation and agreement in relation to family planning;3ºraising youth awareness on family planning.Chapter IV
Miscellaneous and final provisions
Article 21 – Repealing provision
All prior legal provisions contrary to this Law are repealed.Article 22 – Drafting, consideration and adoption of this Law
This Law was drafted, considered and adopted in Kinyarwanda.Article 23 – Commencement
This Law comes into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda.History of this document
06 June 2016 this version
Commenced
20 May 2016
Assented to