{Owners of hotels, restaurants and bars in Huye District have been called upon to stand up for the rights of children and report those who try to use their facilities to seduce and violate rights of minors.}<\/p>\n
The call was made on June 6 during a meeting that brought together hoteliers and Police in Huye.<\/p>\n
The meeting was part of the Rwanda National Police (RNP) ongoing awareness campaign against child abuse.<\/p>\n
Inspector of Police (IP) Rukundo Mucyo, the District Community Liaison Officer of Huye, noted that such hospitality facilities are used by some people to seduce and violate the rights of children offering them alcoholic drinks and other illegal offers.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t give room for anyone to offer alcoholic drinks or anything unlawful in your bars, restaurants and hotels because the law prohibits that and applies to you as well,\u201d IP Rukundo said.<\/p>\n
Article 217 of the Rwanda Penal Code defines a child or a minor as \u201cevery human being aged less than eighteen years unless otherwise provided by the law.\u201d<\/p>\n
Article 219 of the penal code stipulates that any person who offers or sells alcoholic beverages or tobacco to a child or involves him or her in the sale of such products shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of at least three months but less than six months and a fine of Rwf300, 000 to Rwf1 million or one of these penalties.<\/p>\n
These penalties also apply to any person who encourages a child to drink alcoholic beverages or to smoke or to go to bars.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people might want to use your facilities to sexually abuse these minors, which you shouldn\u2019t allow. Yes, this is business but it should not be used as an excuse to promote criminality. We urge you to be partners in enforcing the law and report to police the moment you notice some people trying to use your facilities in such unlawful manner that violates and undermines the rights of others,\u201d IP Rukundo said.<\/p>\n
He further reminded them to record well particulars of their clients, which facilitates investigations in case an offence is committed.<\/p>\n
He observed that human traffickers might as well want to use their facilities as meeting points with the targets, and adding that in case they suspect that, they should be quick to inform police.<\/p>\n
IP Rukundo seized this opportunity to also warned against buying meat from unknown sources<\/p>\n
\u201cIn most cases, you find that these are stolen cattle and other domestic animals, which thieves slaughter and sell to owners of hotels, bars and restaurants,\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n
The meeting was also attended by local leaders in Ngoma Sector including the executive secretary, Arsene Kabalisa, who echoed the same message and challenges the hoteliers to revamp their services and be partners in community policing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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