Parents can produce any desired number of children—MPs

{The parliamentary chamber of deputies has passed a draft law that strengthens the workings of family planning and reproductive health. The draft law includes an article requiring parents to teach their children about reproductive health in addition to other responsibilities.}

This draft law was first presented to the deputies in 2011 proposing that every Rwandan has a right of producing the number of children they so like but giving government the responsibility of sensitizing parents to produce children they can ably take care of.

The president of parliamentary committee of citizens’ welfare, Honourable Mureshyankwano Marie Rose stressed the need for creating awareness on reproductive health to keep citizens in line normal family planning trends.

“In fact this law includes the need of sensitizing citizens on the program to change perceptions about reproductive health,” she said.

This draft law was linked to Rwanda’s Vision 2020, EDPRS, government’s seven year plan, family planning policy, and reproductive health policy.

MP Nyirahirwa said that the article stressing the need to talk to children about reproductive health should become a subject of sensitization other than being a law.
“Parents are usually trained on such programs. If we make it a law, it will be complicated to assess the implementation,” she said.

She also wondered how government will to follow up a parent who may not have accomplished duties of educating children about reproductive health.

Another MP, Gatabazi Jean Marie Vianney said that they want to remind parents about how to talk to children on their growth and sex reproductive health until a child becomes mature. He also noted that it should be part of mobilization other than a law.