A/HRC/19/56/Add.1 94. The Government should acknowledge the Batwa as a distinct population group and put focused energy into designing and implementing targeted programmes to improve their conditions. The Batwa should participate in a meaningful way in all stages of policy formulation, programme design and implementation of decisions that affect them. 95. The Government should compensate displaced Batwa communities and, pursuant to effective consultation with those communities, develop initiatives to reconnect them with their ancestral habitats and cultural practices, recognize their rights to the natural resources of the forests, and develop programmes that value and preserve the traditional practices of their forest livelihoods. 96. The Government must be commended for the programmes that it has instituted to date that are targeted to benefit those who are considered the poorest people in every community, such as the “One Cow per Poor Family” programme, work relief for those who are unemployed and subsidies for housing, health insurance, and school costs, and initiatives that it outlines in its National Social Protection Strategy of 2011. 97. However, many Batwa communities are failing to benefit fully from Government initiatives and, in some instances, are facing negative impacts as a result of the manner in which certain initiatives are implemented at the local level. While not discriminatory per se, some policies and programmes may have a disproportionate negative impact on Batwa due to their disadvantaged situation. Equally, due to their social distance from and relative lack of contact with the mainstream society, Batwa are failing to take advantage of positive policies. 98. Batwa families should be allocated land sufficient for them to engage in agriculture or livestock farming and should receive the necessary training. Targeted poverty alleviation programmes should be developed with vocational training specifically targeted to their particular needs as a population group transitioning from a hunter-gathering livelihood and assistance to find employment. 99. Specific programmes to encourage and enable greater enrolment of Batwa children in primary and secondary schools are critical. A holistic approach must be taken that addresses the stigma that confronts Batwa children in schools. The independent expert draws the Government’s attention to the recommendations of the first session of the Forum on Minority Issues and the right to equal quality education and encourages implementation of those recommendations relevant to the situation of the Batwa. 100. The Government programme to demolish all nyakatsi houses should be reviewed urgently to ensure that it has not impacted negatively on vulnerable individuals, families or communities. Local authorities should act only according to strict guidelines ensuring that no person is left without shelter due to their actions. 101. Batwa women and children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of discrimination, social exclusion and poverty and their situation merits particular focused attention including ensuring adequate maternal and infant health care, access to education, adequate housing, food security, access to water and sanitation and protection from violence, including sexual violence and exploitation. The Government should undertake research and formulate specific, targeted programme responses as appropriate. 102. The Government should acknowledge the stigma attached to and discrimination against Batwa that exists in Rwandan society and assess the ways in which that stigma may be creating obstacles to the successful impact of programmes to address the inadequate living conditions faced by Batwa. That analysis should 22