About Rwanda
 official name: Rwandese Republic (Repubulika y'u Rwanda)
capital: Kigali
head of state: President Maj. Gen. Paul Kagame
state: multi party
population: 8,648,248
independence: from belgium in 1962
languages: Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili)
religion: Roman Catholic 52.7%, Protestant 24%, Adventist 10.4%, Muslim 1.9%, indigenous beliefs and other 6.5%, none 4.5% (1996)
currency: Rwandan franc (RWF)
media: NA
Legal wise
status of homosexuality: legal
age of consent: 18
laws covering homosexual activity: No specific regulations concerning homosexuality. Section 362 Penal Code prohibits sexual relations with a person under the age of 18 with a penalty of 2 months to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to 10.000 F.Rw.
background information and government attitudes:
The year 2004 marked the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, in which more than half a million Tutsi and moderate Hutu were slaughtered and Rwanda was devastated in just three months. Rwanda has since made enormous progress in bringing stability and development to the country. Nevertheless, the regime remains repressive, allowing very little space for independent voices. [Because] � in practice, power remains concentrated in the hands of a small inner-circle of military and civilian elites known as the akazu. Critical voices in civil society and the media have been silenced.
From Freedom House's Countries at the Crossroads: 2005 A Survey of Democratic Governance www.freedomhouse.org/research/crossroads/2005/rwanda2005.pdf
Communication
main lines in use: 23,000 (2004)
cellular telephones: 290,000
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 3 (two main FM programs are broadcast through a system of repeaters and the third FM program is a 24 hour BBC program), shortwave 1 (2002).
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997).
Televisions: n.a.; probably less than 1,000 (1997).
Internet hosts: 1,590 (2006)
Internet users: 38,000 (2005)
Articles:
 DECEPTION CHEZ LES GAYS RWANDAIS APRES L�ETUDE A L�ASSEMBLEE DE LA LOI ANTIGAY
by Mongezi Mhlongo 20/10/2009
RWANDA � 20 Octobre 2009: Alors que le gouvernement rwandais finalise le processus de r�vision de du code p�nal, la Coalition de la Soci�t� Civile en faveur des droits des Lesbiennes, Gays, Bisexuels, Transsexuels et Intersexes (LGBTI) a exprim�e des inqui�tudes � propos de l�article 217 de la l�gislation qui p�nalise la conduite homosexuelle.
RWANDAN GAYS DISAPPOINTED AS ANTIGAY BILL IS TABLED
by Mongezi Mhlongo 15/10/2009
RWANDA � 15 October 2009: As the Rwandan government sums up the process of reviewing that country�s draft penal code, the Civil Society Coalition on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people�s rights has expressed concerns about article 217 of the legislation which criminalises homosexual conduct.
HOCA OUVRE LE DEBAT SUR L�HOMOSEXUALITE AU RWANDA
by Simangele Mzizi 12/10/2009
RWANDA � 12 Octobre 2009: Une admission publique de la part de Naome Ruzindana, Directrice de Horizon Community Association (HOCA) sur l�existence de l�homosexualit� au Rwanda a relanc� la controverse sur ce sujet dans le pays, avec les personnalit�s du pays d�crivant cette pratique comme une abomination qui est contraire � la culture rwandaise.
HOCA OPENS HOMOSEXUALITY DEBATE IN RWANDA
by Simangele Mzizi 9/10/2009
RWANDA: 09 October 2009 - A public admission by the Director of Horizon Community Association (HOCA), Naome Ruzindana, that homosexuality does exist in Rwanda has sparked controversy in that country, with public figures dubbing it an abomination that contradicts the Rwandan culture.
LE SILENCE SUR LES DROITS DES GAYS AFFECTE LE MILITANTISME DES LGBTI AU RWANDA
by Mask Admin 4/9/2009
RWANDA � 28 Juillet 2009: Deux apr�s que le parlement ait pr�sent� le projet de loi criminalisant l�homosexualit�,les organisations de Lesbiennes, Gays, Bisexuels, Transsexuels et Intersexes (LGBTI) au Rwanda sont toujours incertaines sur leur future, n��tant pas prot�g�es par la loi.
 RESEARCH PUTS RWANDAN GAYS UNDER SPOTLIGHT by Mongezi Mhlongo 3/8/2009
human rights activists were released from prison by Mask Admin 13/3/2008
fight homosexuality, kolini tells churches by Mask Admin 6/12/2007
sodomy, animal sex un-african by Mask Admin 23/1/2006
rwandan gay and lesbian people are short-changed due to a repressive environment by Mask Admin 27/6/2005
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Jessica Stern, researcher for Human Rights Watch Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Program
