CRC/C/RWA/CO/3-4
(e)
Provide accessible, age appropriate and adolescent-friendly health
services for boys and girls, including confidential services related to sexual and
reproductive health, with a focus on prevention of HIV/AIDS and sexually
transmitted infections (STIs), and the prevention of substance abuse; and
(f)
Establish specific budgetary lines for children’s health and nutrition
under the Ministry of Health, and in this regard, seek financial and technical
assistance from, inter alia, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the
World Health Organization (WHO).
Standard of living
48.
While commending the existence of several policies to combat poverty and
strengthen child protection, including by direct support through cash and in-kind transfers
to children in vulnerable situations under its Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme, the
Committee is nonetheless concerned that up to 60 per cent of the State party’s children live
below the poverty line.
49.
The Committee calls on the State party to:
(a)
Take all necessary measures to address the high levels of child poverty
and vulnerability through, inter alia, improved social protection, income and family
support services to disadvantaged families, including targeted community-based
programmes for families and child-headed households that are particularly
vulnerable to poverty; and
(b)
Assess the impact of policies such as Vision 2020, the National Strategic
Plan of Action for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children and the National Social
Protection Strategy on reducing child poverty and ensure that children get equitable
access to social services, health care, education and social protection measures.
50.
The Committee notes the Government’s initiative to construct decent housing as an
effort to improve the living conditions of the Rwandan people, including children.
However, it is concerned that housing initiatives, such as the Bye-Bye Nyakatsi campaign
has rendered hundreds of families homeless in the interim, and has disproportionately
affected Batwa children due to their vulnerable economic situation.
51.
The Committee strongly urges the State party to ensure that children, including
the marginalized Batwa, and their families displaced during the Bye Bye Nyakatsi
programme be immediately provided new places of residence which conform to
international standards relating to the right to housing. The Committee also urges the
State party to ensure that its housing programmes are carried out in accordance with
the concept of the right to decent housing.
H.
Education, leisure and cultural activities (arts. 28, 29 and 31 of the
Convention)
Education, including vocational training and guidance
52.
While welcoming the State party’s various initiatives to improve educational
outcomes for children, including the 2010-2015 Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP), a
five-year (2008-2013) campaign entitled “Making a difference for girls”, and increased
budgetary allocations, the Committee is concerned about the following:
(a)
The inadequate quality of education and unequal educational outcomes,
including disparities between urban and rural areas, and limited access to education for
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