English
Kinyarwanda
The Rwanda National Police (RNP) continued campaign against drug abuse and human trafficking was on Wednesday extended to 368 members of Genocide Survivors Students Association (AERG), who are currently undergoing a civic education course at Rwanda Peace and Leadership Centre based Nkumba Sector of Burera District.
In her presentation to the youth, Deputy Commissioner for Community Policing, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rose Muhisoni, took them through the current state of drug abuse in the country; its dangers particularly to the youth; their role in fighting drug abuse and how drug abuse relates to human trafficking and other crimes.
“The youth constitute the biggest percentage of those affected by drug abuse, yet, they are also the future of our country and this justifies why we put extra efforts in fighting this scourge. Besides, drugs abuse and alcoholism also have serious consequence to health and security,” said ACP Muhisoni.
She noted that young people who persistently abuse substances often experience an array of problems, including academic difficulties that are mostly exhibited through poor performance and missing school, health-related problems including mental health, poor peer relationships, and influencing criminal activities.
Additionally, there are consequences for family members, the community, and the entire society, she said.
The deputy commissioner also told the youth that there are cases of deaths, illnesses and disabilities that stem from abuse of narcotic drugs.
“People who live with substance dependence have a higher risk of all bad outcomes including unintentional injuries, accidents, risk of domestic violence, medical problems, and death,” she said.
In the last five years, police recorded 18,383 cases related to drug abuse that constitute 18% of the crimes recorded in the same period.
Of the 4,149 people arrested in those cases 3,600 were male while the rest are female.
On human trafficking, ACP Muhisoni told AERG youth that; "A significant feature of human trafficking is the promise of jobs, opportunities for school and a better life, usually in a foreign country. The traffickers want their victim for forced sexual exploitation, and forced labour…. Rwanda National Police is actively involved in this awareness so that no one falls victim, and it should as well be your responsibility.”
Global statistics indicate that human trafficking is the most under reported crime in the world; therefore according to RNP, it is important for every citizen to be sensitized in order to develop a mechanism that guards against the crime.
The Deputy Commissioner told the youth that the different social media platforms are used to lure persons into the crime, and warned them about the ills of sharing their personal information with strangers online.
She said that the most effective strategy against human trafficking is to know about it and further informed them of some practical questions to ask in the event they suspect that they are likely to be lured into the human trafficking.
“Ask yourself these questions; how did I get a visa and I did not attend a visa interview? How am I being offered so much money for very minimal work? Why me with this offer from a stranger? We have to think, so don’t let sweet talk and nice things capture you,” she warned.
