Rwanda Did Not Endorse Genderqueer Toolkit - Govt Spokesperson

New Times
A page in the new Comprehensive Sexuality Education launched on March 31, that educates about gender identity and sexual orientation.
2 April 2023
The New Times (Kigali)
By Glory Iribagiza

Government neither endorsed nor adopted a Comprehensive Sexuality Education toolkit recognizing and promoting the education about genderqueer and different sexual orientations, the Office of the Government Spokesperson (OGS) has said.

"The Comprehensive Sexuality Education Toolkit: Amahitamo Yanjye published on March 31, is a product of the NGO Plan International. This toolkit has not been validated, endorsed, or adopted by either the Ministry of Health, Rwanda Biomedical Center, or the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion," a statement published on April 2 reads.

It adds that sexual orientation and gender identity are private matters, and that the health and well-being of all Rwandans are protected without discrimination under existing law and policy.

'Amahitamo Yanjye', (loosely, 'My Choice') shows that gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation are not related, and the terms are explained using new Kinyarwanda terminologies, such as 'abagabogore' and 'igitsina cya gatatu'.

The toolkit was launched as an out-of-school material for adolescents and young people aged from 10-24 years, and was to be taught in schools and refugee camps.

Its launch attracted public debate from within and out of Rwanda.

Read the original article on New Times.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2023 The New Times. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.