Rwanda’s Penal Code defines child defilement in article 190 as “any sexual intercourse or any sexual act with a child regardless of the form or means used.” Any person below the age of eighteen years is by law considered as a child.
Prosecutor General Jean Bosco Mutangana told the press on Monday that the figures are alarming, calling for tighter measures to fight the vice.
He said 1866 out of 2996 cases were sent to court while others were dismissed for lacking tangible proofs.
“It is so bad sending 1866 cases to court in one year; this means child defilement is on rise. There tangible proofs about these cases that will be examined by the courts,” Mutangana said.
The prosecution also recorded 505 cases of rape among which 222 were sent to court while 1091 of violence between couples were registered in the year spanning from last year’s July to June 2018.
Mutangana said more efforts will be invested in fighting rape and defilement crimes in the fiscal year 2018/2019.
NPPA reports it is winning cases in court at the rate of 92.5%
Article 191 of the Penal Code states that any person who commits child defilement shall be liable to life imprisonment with special provisions.
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