Rwanda National Police

Parents have been urged to protect their children from any form of violence whether physical or psychological.

Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) Alexandre Minani, the District Community Liaison Officer (DCLO) of Ngororero said this while speaking to about 600 parents, recently.

“Soon students will be breaking off for holidays; they will fully be under you custody, remember there are people out there that lure young girls into sexual intercourse seducing them with their wealth or money. This results to unwanted pregnancies and STDs. Be close and friendly to your children and protect them from such harm,” he said.

AIP Minani also appealed to parents not to give children alcoholic substances, and warned owners of hotels, bars and lodges against giving alcoholic drinks to under aged children, and cautioned owners of night clubs against allowing in children.

Article 217 of the new penal code defines a child as “every human being aged under eighteen years unless otherwise provided by the law.

Article 219 of the penal code stipulates that any person who offers or sells alcoholic beverages or tobacco to a child or involves his or her in the sale of such products shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of at least three months but less than six months and a fine of Rwf300, 000 to Rwf1 million or one of these penalties.

These penalties also apply to any person who encourages a child to drink alcoholic beverages or to smoke or to go to bars.

Minani took time to further urge them against leaving children unattended at home or sending them to fetch water from dangerous water bodies, which leads to drowning.

According to statistics, majority drowning cases involve children, who are either sent to fetch water in the dark or dangerous places like lakes, or drown while swimming.

He also tutored them about human trafficking as means to collectively protect children from any form of human trafficking.

The head of Parents Association at College de l’Immaculée Conception-Muramba, Jean Maurice Habamenshi, thanked Rwanda National Police for its community policing outreach programme saying, “Our knowledge on children’s rights has been enhanced, we have also learnt new means of ensuring the safety of our children.

The school director, Victoire Uwamariya promised that the school will take on this awareness messages to parents and students.