constituteproject.org PDF generated: 18 Apr 2016, 15:15 TITLE III: POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS • Restrictions on political parties • Right to form political parties Article 52 A multi-party system of government is recognized. Political organizations fulfilling the conditions required by Law are permitted to be formed and to operate freely; they must abide by the Constitution and other Laws as well as democratic principles and they should not destabilise national unity, territorial integrity and security of the nation. • Equality regardless of gender Political organizations shall participate in the education of citizens on politics based on democracy and elections and operate in such a manner as to ensure that women and men shall have equal access to elective offices. The leadership organs of political organizations shall have offices at the national level. The Organic Law governing political organizations shall determine their offices at other levels of administrative entities. Article 53 Rwandans are free to join political organizations of their choice or not to join them. • Equality regardless of political party • Equality regardless of gender • Equality regardless of tribe or clan • Equality regardless of parentage • Equality regardless of race • Equality regardless of religion • Prohibited political parties • Restrictions on political parties No Rwandan shall be subjected to discrimination by reason of membership of a given political organization or on account of not belonging to any political organization. Article 54 Political organizations are prohibited from basing themselves on race, ethnic group, tribe, lineage, region, sex, religion or any other division which may lead to discrimination. Political organizations must constantly reflect the unity of the people of Rwanda, gender equality and complementality, whether in the recruitment of members, putting in place organs of leadership and in their operations and activities. • Regulation of political parties Article 55 The Senate may lodge a complaint with the High Court against a political organization which has grossly violated the obligations contained in the provisions of Articles 52, 53 and 54 of this Constitution. In case of appeal, the appeal shall be heard by the Supreme Court. Depending on the gravity of the violation proved, the Court may, without prejudice to criminal prosecution, impose any of the following sanctions against the political organization found guilty of the violation:   1°. formal warning;   2°. suspension of activities for a period not exceeding two years;   3°. suspension of activities for the whole Parliamentary term;   4°. dissolution. Rwanda 2003 (rev. 2010) Page 16