English
Kinyarwanda
Any form of violence or abuse against children is a fundamental violation of their rights. Children are most often abused by those close to them such as neighbors, friends, teachers, parents and other relatives.
Child abuse is not just physical violence directed at a child. It is any form of maltreatment by an adult, which is violent or threatening for the minor, including sexual, physical, emotional and
neglect as well as child exploitation such as child labour.
These forms of abuse affect the ability of children to fulfill their life potential.
Statistics indicate that about 78,000 babies were also born to teen mothers between 2015 and 2019.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) in partnership with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) World Vision Rwanda and other partners are now discussing measures to reinforce the existing mechanisms in ending gender based violence and child abuse.
The joint national child protection reflection meeting held on Tuesday, May 24, looks at the management of offenders, reporting mechanism, accountability of relevant institutions in response to the problem, and to share experiences on investigation, evidence collection, protection and challenges in handling child sexual violence.
It was also attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education, prosecution, Legal Aid, Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS), National Rehabilitation Service (NRS), UNICEF, Save the Children, Plan International and CLADHO, an Umbrella Human Rights Organization.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP (ACP) Teddy Ruyenzi, the joint meeting gives more inclusive approaches to this vice of human rights violation.
"We need concerted efforts by all stakeholders with the same understanding and approach instead of working in isolation. In addressing GBV and child abuse, it should not be what we say but rather what we do to create impact to protect children and women," said ACP Ruyenzi.
She added: "We need to strengthen community awareness, go down to the grassroots, reach to all groups; women, men, couples, children, local leaders and mentors to build a collective bond."
Umulisa Viviane from RIB said that cases of rape, battery, adultery, misuse of resources and polygamy, among others, increased from 670 to 1051 cases between 2020 and 2021.
The increase, however, she attributed it to increasing reporting as opposed to before.
Umulisa also called upon men to break the notion of silence. "Some men are abused by their wives, but this goes unreported because of their unrealistic feeling."
Marie Immacul?e Ingabire, Transparency International Rwanda chairperson embarked on corruption and bribery in particular as a hindrance to fighting child abuse.
She argued that in responding to child abuse, corruption should also be given due attention. This, she added, is because some abusers tend to bribe parents or witnesses to kill evidence or to prevent them as well as victims from reporting.
Innocent Mutabaruka, the director for Integrated Programme at World Vision emphasized that children should be valued, listened to and protected.
"We need to amplify the voices of children and their stories, and to do enough to be more on the prevention side than being reactive," said Mutabaruka.
Participants also looked at the role and failures of parents, concerned institutions in influencing mindset change and working with the media to increase response, prevention and timely reporting; providing legal aid and ensuring that teenage mothers also go back to school.
