Rwanda has strongly denied reports that its parliament is considering a draft law which would forcibly sterilise people who are mentally disabled.
Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, deputy speaker of parliament, was responding to a call by US-based activists Human Rights Watch to scrap the proposed law.
He also told the BBC that plans for HIV testing before couples get married are strictly voluntary, not compulsory.
Mr Ntawukuriryayo said the lobby group should check before releasing reports.
He said he had never seen a bill or provision which proposed forcible sterilisation.
Earlier, HRW’s Joe Amon had said: “Provisions in the current bill that increase stigma, rely on coercion and deny… reproductive rights should be removed.”
