In 2025, Rwanda enacted a transformative Law Regulating Healthcare Services, passed by Parliament on August 4 and effective after publication in the Official Gazette. It lowers the age for independent access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services from contraception and HIV prevention to other care from 18 to 15, eliminating the need for parental consent.
Civil society groups are actively raising awareness and supporting implementation. Viateur Muragijerurema of Kigali Hope Organization, which supports youth aged 15-24 living with HIV/AIDS nationwide, highlighted outreach efforts:
“We will bring this law to young people so they know it, understand the rights it grants, the services they are entitled to, and their responsibilities in promoting and sharing information about it with peers.”
Clarisse Iradukunda from the Rwanda Girl Guides Association emphasized collaboration and challenges like parental reluctance to discuss reproductive health:
“A law has been passed clarifying that a child aged 15 can access health services… We will push to encourage everyone in that age bracket to understand that there is a law protecting them.”
She shared a tragic case from a safe space: a young orphan impregnated by her aunt’s husband, who secretly sought an unsafe abortion due to fear illustrating how the new law could enable safe, professional care instead.
Announciata Mukayitete of Réseau des Femmes celebrated the advocacy victory and called for ongoing partnerships:
“Our advocacy has borne fruit; the law has been signed and now awaits implementation… We want partnership so that everyone knows it well wherever they are, making dissemination easier.”
This reform, driven by years of civil society advocacy, aims to reduce teen pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and health risks by empowering youth through education, safe spaces, and accessible services.
Naomi Irakoze Mugaragu.