Rwanda National Police

The youth have been called upon to be vigilant of people that might want to take advantage of them with empty promises, with intention to lure them into human trafficking for their personal gains.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Tony Kuramba, Commissioner for Interpol, while speaking to over 400 youths from Gasabo district on December 23, said “human trafficking is real” although it is still a rare act in Rwanda.

This was during a campaign against human and drug trafficking in Gasabo held in Kacyiru and included a walk against the two security threats.

“Human trafficking is a serious breach to human rights. People are treated like goods, which we have to stand up against, jointly,” he said.

“Although drugs-related crimes have continued to go down, we are still seeing majority of those still involved being the youth. We are still seeing the young generation selling and consuming narcotics, illicit gin and brew,” ACP Kuramba noted.

“Drugs may lure you into some malpractices like unwanted pregnancies, theft, fighting and force you to abandon school. Don’t just throw away your future. By saying no to drugs abuse, you will doing yourself a favor for a better future and that of the country,” he told hundreds of participants, majority the youth who turned up for the awareness exercise.

“Young people who involve in drug abuse have limited chances of becoming important people in the future or achieving their goals,” he observed.

He urged the youth to be part of anti-crime initiatives such as neighborhood watch, provide timely info about anything that might affect the security of their community and be part of anti-crime clubs in their respective schools.

Margaret Mukandayambaje, one of the youth, said: “I am happy for these messages because now I have basic information about human trafficking, how it’s done and how I can avoid being a victim.  This is an important message even my fellow youth should benefit but my colleagues should also be part of this awareness campaign because that way, it will get to everyone very fast.”

She called upon the youth to social networks like twitter and facebook to spread the gospel against trafficking in human being and drugs.

The exercise was part of the ongoing global ‘Turn Back Crime’ campaign launched in Rwanda last month and seeks to raise awareness on the nature of organised crime with the ultimate goal of driving a cross-border response to support the global police community in making the world a safer place.