English
Kinyarwanda
Over the past few weeks, Rwanda National Police (RNP) has actively engaged in operations, sensitization campaigns and other activities dedicated to protecting children and implementing the law on child protection.
Article 6 of law No. 71/2018 of 31/08/2018 relating to the protection of the child defines a child as “any person under eighteen (18) years of age.”
The operations focuses mainly on people serving alcoholic beverages to minors, those working in mining and stone quarries, casual labourers in homes and in market places.
Early this month, 28 children were found in Muhondo market in Gakenke District, where they were conducting commercial activities, including carrying luggage. Two others aged 13 and 14, were found rearing cattle in Ruhuha Village, Simbwa Cell of Kabarore Sector in Gatsibo District.
Just on Monday, Police with local leaders rescued nine children, who were found excavating and crashing stones in a quarry located in Gitaraga Village, Rurenge Cell of Mwogo Sector in Bugesera District.
More children have been found in bars and other joints drinking alcohol, which has prompted local authorities and law enforcement agencies to take action including closing the implicated bars and arresting owners or managers of the bars where children were found drinking.
These children are first sensitized on their rights, given civic education and enticed to go back to school before they are handed over to their respective parents.
A meeting with parents is also held to educate them on their parental responsibilities in line with child protection emphasizing child education as the key to their better future.
Similar focus is also put on fighting corporal punishment, and a number of teachers have been arrested for severe punishment in form of disciplining.
What the law says
The law defines harassing a child as “any act that causes or may be harmful to the health be physical or emotional or which may deprive the child his or her rights.”
Article 27 provides a community service for a period not exceeding one month to anyone who offers a child alcoholic beverages or tobacco. In case of recidivism, the penalty is imprisonment for a term of up to three months and a fine of between Rwf100, 000 and Rwf200, 000.”
A person who sells alcoholic beverages or tobacco to a child, causes or encourages a child to drink alcoholic beverages, to smoke or to go to bars commits an offence, with a sentence of between three and six months, upon conviction, and a fine of up to Rwf200, 000.
Article 32: Neglecting parental or guardian obligations without a cause and putting them in danger is also punishable with community services for a period not more than one month, but it can lead to an imprisonment of between two and six months, in case of recidivism.
The Ministry of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA) defines child labour as the denial of children’s rights and a barrier to holistic child development. Child labour is generally a complex phenomenon caused by many factors most of which are equally very complex.
Article 6 of the law regulating labour in Rwanda, prohibits subjecting a child below the age of 18 to any form of works, which are physically harmful to the child; work underground, under water, at dangerous heights or in confined space; work with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools or which involves manual handling or transport of heavy loads; work in an environment which exposes the child to temperatures, noise levels or vibrations damaging his/her health; work for longer hours or during the night or performed in confined spaces.
These inappropriate and unlawful acts directed to children are done in our midst; mining and stone quarries, farms, homes, tea plantations and markets. This calls for individual and collective responsibility to report such acts happening in our communities and denying children to get to their full potential.
Child labour, serving alcohols to minors and violence against children is an obstacle for these boys and girls from reaching their potential for the benefit of their families, communities and countries.
We need to safeguard and protect. Safeguarding is the policies and practices that schools and governing bodies employ to keep children safe and promote their well-being while protection describes the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children, who are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.
