Rwanda: Batwa Land Rights in Rwanda

Traditionally hunter-gatherers, the Batwa forest peoples of Rwanda are recognized as having been the first inhabitants of the land. Yet the Batwa have been forced to the edges of their ancestral forests. With no compensation and no alternative forms of livelihood, most have become beggars and landless labourers. This study from Minority Rights International highlights the plight of the Batwa and the need for allocated lands to allow them to preserve their culture, values and traditional livelihoods.