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Country strategy


Disability situation in Rwanda

The Rwandan Disability Movement is currently dominated by the activities of a handful of DPOs which have received support from a variety of sources mainly from foreign donors. As a legacy of the charity principle of disability so dominant in the 1960s and 1970s, there are numerous centers providing services in education, health, counselling and guidance to persons with disabilities in Rwanda. These have been more ‘visible’ as the organizations supporting PWDs. FENAPH has from its inception in 2001 been recognized by government as the common voice of PWDs in Rwanda leading it to be included in the Constitution in 2003. Although its legitimacy to represent all organizations at times was questioned by PWDs and DPOs, it has been able to carry out its tasks largely due to commitment of its member organizations and financial and logistical support from government. Rwanda ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008, and the government has put legal and institutional frameworks in place that address the issues of persons with disabilities. These include the 2003 Constitution, the Law protecting the rights of disabled persons and the Ministerial Order providing for the regulation of the Federation, Associations and Centers responsible for the welfare of Persons with Disabilities.

 

DPOD's focus areas in Rwanda

 The representation of PWDs in Parliament has not yet led to tangible results as no sector policies has yet been adopted within the most important sectors such as education, employment and rehabilitation. There is a big task ahead for the coming years to use the parliamentary representation as a mouthpiece for lobbying and advocacy work towards the broader parliamentary body and sector ministries. Based on the situation analysis the key focus areas of work for DPOD funded programme are identified as:

  • Strengthening the Federation at national and local level
  • Strengthening of newly established and relatively young single disability organizational structures
  • Information sharing and improvement of communication
  • Advocacy, lobbying and awareness raising interventions
  • Goal-oriented interventions towards children and young persons with disabilities (youth)
  • Gender and equal opportunities between the sexes
  • HIV/AIDS

 

Read more: Rwanda country strategy and other relevant strategies

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