The youths are mostly targeted in the human trafficking trade
After Rwanda’s First Lady Jeannette Kagame called on Rwandans to put in collective efforts to stop human trafficking, efforts to pursue this cause have started paying off with the Rwanda National Police managing to rescue victims.
One of the most recent successful cases is of a young Rwandan senior six student, who had been trafficked to Zambia on October 18, 2014 through Uganda and Tanzania.
Most trafficked victims are taken to Asia, Europe and most recently in Australia but there is no indication of human trafficking criminal networks operating in Rwanda. Rwanda, in most cases, is being used as a transit centre, according to Police.
Interpol Kigali, in recent years has intercepted 12 Ugandans that were being trafficked to Dubai, intercepted Burundians and rescued four Rwandan boys.
ACP Tony Kuramba, Commissioner for Interpol in Rwanda said that the success was due to working closely with the Zambian, Ugandan and Tanzanian police as well as Interpol and investigations were carried out until she was successfully rescued.
During the National consultative meeting on trafficking in human and drug abuse The First Lady Jeannette Kagame called upon Rwandans to stand up jointly against threats of human trafficking, gender based violence, drug abuse and alcohol consumption, which pose danger to the youth.
The First Lady made the call on October 10 while officially opening a high level dialogue on trafficking in human beings at the Parliamentary Building in Kigali.
Leaders and activities have raised concerns over the need to defend the country’s dignity and cultural values calling for strict laws, amendment and ratification of international bills to punish criminals charged with cases of human trafficking and drug abuse.
Participants of the high level consultative meeting also raised a concern that punishments over human trafficking crimes are soft compared to the gravity of crimes.
On legal perspective, human trafficking is punished by the Organic Law No 01/2012/OL of 02/05/2012 instituting the penal code, with a sentence of imprisonment raging between six months and 15 years, combined with a fine ranging from Rwf 500,000 to 20 million depending on how the crime was committed.
Between 2011 and 2014, 24 cases were registered by the prosecution, among which 10 were filed. So far, nine cases were tried; four among them were convicted while other five were acquitted.
On this this concern, the Minister of Justice Johnston Busingye said that if the law do not adequately prevent, punish or protect the public, it can be amended to respond to the magnitude of the matter.
Lack of evidences for the prosecution of human trafficking, GBV and drug abuse crimes was also listed among key challenges in pursuing the criminals. Thus, the meeting also called for collective efforts and tighter cooperation between all concerned institutions to ensure it is addressed.
Busingye said there is need to initiate deterrent measures including revising laws, conduct awareness on the scope and prevention of the problem and training on investigation and evidence collection to ensure that justice is served.
He observed that the existing laws are weak in relation to the human trafficking and drug abuse gravity.