Rwanda National Police

Leaders of Karongi District were last Tuesday urged to be more vigilant against gender-based-violence and ensure that their populace is protected against evils of human trafficking that target the young and vulnerable.

The message was delivered by the District Community Liaison Officer, Inspector of Police (IP), Jean Baptiste Rutebuka, who addressed over 200 leaders including district representatives and heads of youth, women and health centers.

During the meeting, which was held at Gakuta Cell, Tumba Sector, IP Rutebuka told participants that gender related crimes like assault and rape are fueled by drugs and alcohol abuse – and can be averted if the leaders are vigilant and close enough to the people they serve.

“Let us make it our sole motive to end the consumption of illegal drugs and the abuse of alcohol. Families have been destroyed because of this. Women and children who are abused are usually afraid to report but as leaders, we should stay close to them and help them whenever they are abused,” he said.

“You must make sure that the youth in your vicinity are sensitized about the dangers associated with human trafficking. They should not listen to cunning strangers who promise them heaven on earth, but instead, urge them to study hard and seek for existing opportunities to improve their lives and contribute to national development.”

Dative Mukabarisa, the District vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, told the meeting that gender violence does exist in some families – and it is sometimes fueled by ignorance about the laws which protect individual rights.

"Some men abuse their wives both physically and mentally and this makes it hard for a particular family to improve its welfare. All people are equal before the law. No one should feel superior to another person just because of their gender,” she said.

“Everyone should speak out against violence. Police and the district institutions have the capacity to help and even protect the identity of those who provide relevant and timely information about such dangerous elements in society.”

She also lauded Police for its nationwide vigilance against gender based violence, as well as its operations against human trafficking.

Although human trafficking is not rampant in Rwanda, Police notes that most victims in the country are taken into forced marriage, labour and prostitution to neighboring countries and overseas.

Since 2009, Police recorded 153 cases of human trafficking, with some of them involving traffickers who use Rwanda as a transit route for victims heading to other countries.

Rwanda stepped up the fight against gender-based-violence and child abuse, with the latest efforts involving a month-long campaign in October spearheaded by the Rwanda National Police in partnership with the ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, under the theme “Act together in Prevention and Response to GBV and Child Abuse.”

Figures from the anti-GBV and child protection Directorate indicate that 3,127 cases of defilement and 325 cases of rape were registered between 2012 and 2013.