{Refugees in Gihembe camp in Gicumbi District have been called upon to respect the rights of children and fight tendencies of child abuse committed within the camp.
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They were also urged to always call the Child-helpline – 116 – to report any form of child abuse.
The deputy commissioner for CID, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Morris Muligo, while speaking to the refugees recently, told them that everyone under the age of 18 is a child with certain rights that should be observed and protected.
Gihembe camp hosts over 13, 000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo
“Having a sexual intercourse with someone under the age of 18 is classified as defilement, even if there was consent by the victim,” ACP Muligo told the refugees.
Article 190 of the Rwandan penal code defines defilement as “any sexual intercourse or any sexual act with a child regardless of the form or means used” and punishable with a life sentence under article 191.
“Some parents tend to get their children out of school so as to help them with domestic chores including baby-seating their young siblings,” ACP Muligo said.
He cautioned them against abortion and child abandonment, which constitute child abuse and criminal acts as stipulated under articles 162 and 231 of the penal code respectively.
Self-induced abortion is punishable with a sentence of up to three years while abandoning or neglecting a child attracts a prison term of up to five years.
Children, he said, have a right to education, medical, to be registered after birth, to have and know parents, to be protected, to rest and leisure.
He also warned against using children in hectic work, corporal punishment in form of disciplining a child, which he said force them to leave their homes after losing hope to be street children and start abusing drugs and stealing.
“Protecting children is not only the role of Police or a parent, it is the responsibility of everyone by reporting any form of abuse you come across,” ACP Muligo emphasized.
Charlotte Benihirwe, the vice mayor of Gicumbi in charge of social affairs, emphasized the need for parents to watch out their children and value them as people that hold the future of their families and their country.
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