Rwanda National Police

Police in Nyagatare district have cautioned large scale rice growers to refrain from using children as laborers in the rice farms.

The call was made recently after it emerged that some parents were sending their children to work in rice plantations during their holidays

In his message to the parents and rice farmers, the District Community Liaison Officer, Inspector of Police Jean Claude Kaburabuza urged the public to report those suspected of employing children under the age of 18 years for appropriate action against them.

“You should come forward and expose all those individuals who use our children as laborers, we have information that most children laborers are as young as twelve years” he said.

He said some farm owners using child labor usually entice the children with the food and money.

IP Kaburabuza was speaking to hundred of rice growers in Nsheke cell of Nyagatare sector during a regular police community engagement exercises to educate the public about the law and also sensitize them against lawlessness.

He said child labor is contrary to Ministerial order No 02 of 10/5/2016 especially section four of the order and reminded them that Rwanda is one of the first countries in the world that ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) to ensure that children acquire basic needs and protected from violence, abuse and exploitation