The State Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Evode Uwizeyimana, has called for collective efforts to protect child rights and stem gender-based violence.

Uwizeyimana was addressing residents of Rubavu District on the occasion of International Human Rights Day (IHRD) on Saturday.

The international theme of the celebrations was ‘Stand up for someone’s rights today’ while in Rwanda it was ‘Stand up for Someone’s rights today and promote child’s rights to education.’

The minister spoke of the need for more awareness of child rights.

He also called on society to fight against gender-based violence, saying it hampers women and girls’ rights.

"We all know violence against women and girls is among obstacles that continue to undermine human rights, you cannot have good life when your rights are violated. That is why the Government calls for mutual respect for everyone,” said Uwizeyimana.

Speaking to the media, the minister said new measures against teenage pregnancies would be put in place, including using forensics that will help to reveal DNA of offenders.

Speaking at the commemoration of the 68th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in Kigali last week, Lamin Manneh, the UN resident coordinator, said standing up and speaking out against human rights emphasises the imperative need for citizen involvement in politics and public life as a way to ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to decision making that affect their lives.

"In Rwanda, we are pleased to note that most of the instruments related to human rights have been ratified. With the support of One-UN, those rights and principles are being further integrated in national laws and policies and, beyond that, being implemented,” Maneh said.

He noted that there are many commendable initiatives undertaken by the Government in the domain of human rights that the UN is keen to support.

In Rubavu, Manneh urged the public to stand up for the rights of others.

"We would like to understand the particular vulnerability of women and children, that is why we should come up with measures to protect them,” Manneh said.

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Dr Celestin Ntivuguruzwa, said access to education is among primary rights that everyone is entitled to, from childhood, to help prepare for their future.

He said the Constitution recognises the right to education and clearly spells out that primary education is compulsory and free in public schools.

The Chairperson for the National Commission for Human Rights, Madeleine Nirere, commended public institutions for their cooperation in addressing complaints that the commission forwarded for redress.

She said in 2015/16, 76.3 per cent of complaints that the commission submitted to different institutions were resolved.

"As we commemorate this day, the commission will use its mandate of promoting human rights to raise awareness through the promotion and protection of everyone’s rights with special emphasis on vulnerable persons,” she said.

Nirere said Rwanda registered remarkable improvement in rights respect since after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

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