Rwanda National Police

Students of Ecole Secondaire de Kacyiru (ESK) located in Kimironko sector of Gasabo district were on August 27 explained on the globally increasing issue of trafficking in persons and urged to be cautious about strangers and report anyone that try to seduce them with offers to be taken abroad.

While speaking to the students, Inspector of Police Emmanuel Kubwimana, the District Community Liaison Officer said human trafficking is a deadly illegal activity that includes losing life.

“Most people taken abroad end up exploited in forced hard labour; girls are sexually harassed and at times while others end up dead,” IP Kubwimana told students.

Human Trafficking is recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat, force, abduction, giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.

Human trafficking is modern day slave trade. Globally, amongst the ever increasing crimes registered across the globe but not very common in Rwanda due to vigorous measures initiated by the Rwanda National Police in partnership with the general public to combat it.

He also urged them to be role models in crime prevention and provide timely information to security organs for quick intervention.

IP Kubwimana further asked them to always report anything that may cause insecurity in school and their communities by providing timely information and urged them to form anti-crime clubs through which they will discuss and lay strategies against crimes.

Students appreciated the discussion stating that they usually heard about human trafficking but barely knew its existence in Rwanda and vowed to report anyone that tries to seduce them with such ridiculous offers.

Jean Bosco Kubwimana, the school head teacher lauded Police for the lessons delivered adding that they are key guides in fighting traffickers and other crimes.

“These kinds of discussions benefit both pupils and teachers for they know the kinds of trafficking, their effects and where to report suspects, “Kubwimana said

Article 252 of the penal code states that “Any person who abducts or causes to be abducted, arrests or causes to be arrested, detains or causes to be detained, transports or causes to be transported any person in order to make them slaves, sell them as slaves, force them into begging, illegally adopt them on payment of a consideration, take them in indecent pictures, in dangerous sports, in armed conflicts, live together as husband and wife for the purpose of torturing them or selling their organs shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of seven to ten years and a fine of Rwf5 million to Rwf10 million.

If the acts under this Article are committed at an international level, the offender shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of ten (10) years to fifteen (15) years and a fine of Rwf10 million  to Rwf20 million.