English
Kinyarwanda
The Adventists youth have vowed to stand up against gender-based violence and to lead the awareness against human trafficking.
The youth made the commitment during their ongoing conference that started on December 7 in Burera District.
The ‘Northern Conference’ brings together the young generation in the Seventh Day Adventist churches located in the districts of Burera,Musanze,Nyabihu,Gakenke and Rulindo, aged between 18 and 30 years.
About 900 youths are taking part in the conference that is meant to sensitize them on crime prevention, spiritual growth, equip them with vocational skills and conduct outreach programmes.
Inspector of Police (IP), Justin Nkurikiyinka, Burera District Community Liaison Officer (DCLO) sensitised participants on crime prevention and their role in fighting and reporting crimes.
He advised them to abstain from anything that can hinder their better future such as drug abuse and be on watch out of people that might try to lure them into modern slavery under the disguise of better offers like jobs abroad.
“Young people who involve in drugs abuse have limited chances of becoming important people in the future or achieving their goals. Some of them get out of school, become early parents, become thieves,” IP Nkurikiyinka said.
He further advised them to stay out of trouble and be agents of change.
“There are people out there that might want to take advantage of you promising empty offers just to use you for their selfish interests, so report such people that approach you with such lies,” he told the youth.
The youth and girls in particular are the majority targeted age group although this is not a big issue in the country but Rwanda is in most cases used as a transit.
Majority victims have however been intercepted at various Rwanda’s outlets including Ugandan girls intercepted at Kigali International Airport.
Two years ago, Police also intercepted over 60 Bangladeshi in Kigali, who were being trafficked to Mozambique, and arrested the main suspect in the act.
