Constitution of Rwanda 1991

PREAMBLE

The National Council for Development, meeting as Constituent Assembly on 30 May 1991;

Trusting in God Almighty;

In view of the liberation action of the people of Rwanda accomplished by the social revolution of 1959;

Concerned about defending the republican form of government;

Born of the will of the people on 28 Jan 1961 and confirmed by referendum on 25 Sep 1961;

Resolved to safeguard the national indep recovered on 1 July 1962 as well as the acquisition moral revolution 5 July 1973;

Faithful to democratic principles and concerned about ensuring the protection of human rights and promoting respect for fundamental freedoms, in accordance with the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ and the ‘African Charter of Rights of Humans and People’;

Wishing to adapt to national realities the constitutional principles established on 24 Nov 1962 and 20 Dec 1978 and to safeguard the national acquisitions for the purpose of reinforcing democracy;

Convinced of the necessity to achieve effectively national unity, peace, social justice, and respect for human rights based on liberty, equality, and fraternity for all members of the Rwandan community;

Resolved to guarantee to present and future generations the benefits of liberty, prosperity, and fulfillment for each person;

Resolved to pursue efforts made towards the development and prosperity of the country;

Resolved to contribute to maintaining the peaceful coexistense of nations, reinforcing cooperation between peoples, and developing African unity;

In revision of the Constitution of 20 Dec 1978 and in accordance with Article 91 thereof;

Does establish and adopt this Constitution for the Republic of Rwanda:

TITLE II PUBLIC LIBERTIES

Article 12 Human Dignity, Personal Freedom

1. The human being shall be sacred.
2. The liberty of the human being shall be inviolable; no one may be prosecuted, arrested, imprisoned, or convicted other than in the cases prescribed by the law in effect at the time of the perpetrated act and within the forms prescribed by that law.
3. No infraction may be punished by penalties which were not prescribed by law before it was committed.
4. Any person shall be presumed innocent of the charges as long as a definite conviction has not taken place.

Article 22 Privacy

1. The private lives of individuals snall not be infringed upon in any way.
2. The privacy of correspondence and communications by post, telegraph, telephone, or by any other means shall be guaranteed; any restriction shall be determined by law only.
3. Domiciles shall be inviolable. No house search may take place, except in the cases and manner prescribed by law.