Rwanda National Police

As the Rwanda National Police awareness against the crime of human trafficking in Rwanda continues, the Muslim community has been urged to partake in the fight and strengthen partnership with the law enforcers and other Rwandans to hold the mantle against the modern-day slavery by passing over the message to their congregation.

While speaking to about 120 members of the Muslim community majority the youth drawn from different parts of the Eastern Province, on November 16 in Rwamagana District, AIP Goreth Uwimana embarked on the role of every Rwandan and religious denominations in particular, to fight human trafficking and crime prevention in general.

“We are in the era of proactive policing where safety and security is the responsibility of everyone. So, as youth, leaders and parents, we should work together to prevent our fellow Rwandans from falling victims of human trafficking by reporting those who try to masquerade as good Samaritans when actually their intentions are to enslave our fellow citizens,” AIP Uwimana, who is the District Community Liaison Officer of Rwamagana, said.

She explained that although victims are sometimes taken by use of force, threat or abduction, which methods are yet to be reported in Rwanda, majority are deceived or manipulated due to their vulnerability, and in most cases told not to inform anyone about the deal.

With at least 36 cases of human trafficking recorded in Rwanda in the last six years, majority are said to be foreigners intercepted at Rwandan border posts en route to their final destinations, and returned to their home countries.

One of the participants, a 53-year old Habibu Habiyakare expressed gratitude to Rwanda National Police for enlightening Rwandans on the issue of human trafficking adding that this is a new phenomenon that should be known by everyone.

“Today, I believe most of us understood something new and there are other people like us, who don’t know or have never heard anything about human trafficking. So, let’s all go out and spread the message because two heads are better than one,” said Habiyakare.

The meeting also discussed about strategies to fight and prevent the vice of drug abuse.

Another participant, Jean Marie Vianne Niyomugabo, 18, a senior five student of Mirama Secondary school, said: “As a young generation, I have to strive to live a positive life free from drugs because they can cut short my big dreams, and it’s my request that the Rwandan youth should stand up against this. By doing so, we will be together creating a focused generation our country will be looked up to in the future.”