A/HRC/17/2 measures have been taken and the perpetrators were held accountable. The delegation emphasized that it was important to distinguish between procedural irregularity in arrests and detentions from arbitrary arrests and detentions. There were a few cases of arrests and detentions with procedural irregularities, but they were systematically corrected. Also, the removal of street children to child rehabilitation centres or their organization into productive cooperatives should not be regarded as arbitrary arrests. This was a matter of public policy that Rwandan citizens understood and supported. Beggars and street vendors had also been organized into small cooperatives, given start-up capital and provided with slots and stalls in markets, again as a matter of public policy. This was a conscious policy that showed how Rwandans could better organize themselves and that it was erroneous to regard these initiatives as arbitrary arrests. 274. The delegation stated that the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion had established eight childhood development centres in the Northern Province that were currently hosting and providing proper welfare to orphan and vulnerable HIV-positive children. This pilot project would be replicated in other provinces. Also, in the Iwawa Vocational Centre on Iwawa Island in the Western Province, adolescents who had previously aimlessly roamed the streets or were involved in drug abuse had been rehabilitated and taught various skills such as carpentry, tailoring, commercial farming, construction and beekeeping. In May 2011, 752 people graduated from the Centre and were immediately absorbed by the job market. This process was continuing. 275. Recommendation 80.15 insinuated that there was discrimination in Rwanda, which was incorrect. Rwanda was committed to preventing all forms of discrimination, which was prohibited under various legislative enactments. The delegation stated that various programmes on social protection benefited all vulnerable groups, including the Batwa. The Special Rapporteur on minorities had visited Rwanda in February 2011 and assessed the rights enjoyed by the Batwa and other marginalized groups. Rwanda hoped that her report would shed more light on the situation of the Batwa population and other minorities. 276. With regard to recommendation 80.16, the delegation stated that religious groups fully enjoyed their rights. There were about 400 registered religious groups in Rwanda, and many others had not yet registered. These groups practice their faith vibrantly in various public places. Also, six radio stations belonging to religious groups were freely spreading their faith. The delegation stated that a new law governing religious groups and practices had been enacted, with full participation of religious leaders and denominations, to, inter alia, discourage disagreements between different religious groups and to promote coexistence. 277. The delegation stated that Rwanda had benefited from the recommendations of the Working Group, and that it intended to cooperate with the Human Rights Council in the protection and promotion of human rights. The delegation indicated that even as the recommendations were being made during the review, most of them were either being implemented or in the pipeline for implementation. Other accepted recommendations were currently at various degrees of implementation. 278. The delegation reiterated that all recommendations had been taken on board and would be implemented to the letter. There was no doubt that Rwanda had made tremendous progress in its reform portfolio, and the universal periodic review process would help it to identify existing gaps that required its attention. 279. The delegation also reiterated Rwanda’s open invitation to all special rapporteurs and to all participants in the plenary session, who found the time, to visit Rwanda and to share additional ways on improving the lives of Rwanda’s citizens. Rwanda had always been open to constructive criticism and engagements, and always examined recommendations, comments, concerns and other forms of interventions from its GE.12-13630 125