Collectif des Ligues et Associations de Défense des Droits de l'Homme au Rwanda ''CLADHO''

CLADHO is an Umbrella Human Rights Organization founded in 1993 with the mission of defending, protecting and promoting human rights and social justice in Rwanda.

CLADHO seeks to protect and defend human rights in general and promote the open informed debates on key policy issues in particular and then propose feasible policy alternatives in different thematic rights areas, including child rights.

One of the main goals of CLADHO as human rights organization is to ensure that all children fully enjoy their rights as defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Child and Rwanda Integrated Child Rights Policy. CLADHO is working with National Human Rights Commission as national observer to monitor the implementation of child rights instruments aiming at protecting and promoting child rights.

Since its creation in 1993, CLADHO has provided a coordinated platform for Human rights organizations actions and played a central role in key child rights developments at National level. In terms of child protection from violence, recently CLADHO conducted research on child sexual violence and teenage pregnancy through which, after its publication and advocacy made by CLADHO, pushed the government to establish a national steering committee to fight against teenage pregnancy and so many stakeholders initiated different activities aiming at children protection from sexual violence. CLADHO assisted all its members in the elaboration and implementation of child protection policies.

CLADHO also conducted research on violence against children and coordinated different advocacy for child rights promotion and child protection. In summary, in CLADHO’s daily work, child rights programming is paramount. Children are given the opportunity to share their own views, experiences and perspectives on their rights and ensure that children are involved in designing and delivering activities; are involved in decision-making with regard to the extent of their participation.

CLADHO has a strong partnership with the Ministry of Justice, Rwanda Investigation Bureau, and National Commission for Human Rights, and has a Memorandum of Understanding with National Commission for Children for improving and implementing child protection laws and policies.

Countries Involved