Rwanda National Police

Police has called on the general public to immediately report defilement cases once they occur in order to facilitate justice for the victims.

This follows an incident on January 26, when police arrested a man suspected of defiling a three year old girl.

The 28 year old man was at the time of the crime working as a houseboy at the girl’s parents’ home in Remera, Gasabo District.

Although the girl had allegedly been defiled on January 14, her parents delayed to report the case until January 26, which may have given the suspect enough time to interfere with evidence or to escape before being arrested.

She is currently at Kaciru Police Hospital for treatment, while the suspect is held at Remera Police Station as investigations continue.

“When a child is sexually assaulted, his or her world is devastated; and help must be availed to them in the littlest time possible if they are to heal completely. However, people are sometimes afraid to talk openly about these assaults, because they fear society’s perception,” SP Beline Mukamana, the Director of anti-GBV and Child Protection Directorate at Rwanda National Police said.

“I urge parents, guardians and the general public to immediately come forward with information to Police in cases of defilement and rape. Police has the ability, skills and knowledge to conduct quality investigations in such cases, but timely information is very crucial.”

Victims of defilement and rape respond differently to the crime - some become dreadfully depressed while others become very angry.

According to SP Mukamana, all these emotions are fair responses to sexual assault, and if the victims sense that justice might not take course, they sometimes end up trying to seek for revenge or indulging in other criminal offences.

“If your child is sexually assaulted and you delay to report, chances are, the suspect will attack someone else. Therefore, this evidence that you provide could be the difference between a conviction and another rape on another person,” she said.

Police established a toll free number 3512, where information from the public concerning defilement, rape and other gender-based crimes can be reported so that immediate action can commence.

Important as well, the anti-GBV and Child Protection Directorate also advises that even though one may have a strong desire to shower after being violated, they must first see a doctor in order to provide fresh evidence to try and convict the defilement or rape suspect.

Defilement cases topped Rwanda’s gender based crime list in 2012, although recorded cases of GBV reduced to 3,444 from 3,585 in 2011, mainly due to increased public awareness campaigns and law enforcement.

Article 191 of the Penal Code says that any person who commits child defilement shall be liable to life imprisonment.