At 12 years, Anna (not real name) started being defiled on different occasions by a 53-years-old man from her community and later when she was 14 years old, she got pregnant. The so-called ‘rich man’ reached an agreement with her parents that he was going to take care of her basic needs and in return, the parents would not pursue him with the authorities. In so doing, the parents went on to fake Anna’s age and registered her as an 18-year-old so that the man is not accused of defilement. Months later, the man failed to meet their expectations and little Anna was chased from home because she was “becoming a burden.” Participants follow a presentation during the meeting.Courtesy Anna and her infant child were welcomed by Christine Nyirabuseruka, an old woman who offered her shelter while she went on to find ways to fend for her child during day-time. Clement Ndayisenga, the communication officer at Centre Marembo Organization, said that there are many common cases of such among different young girls they receive. The organization was established in 2013 with an aim of restoring dignity and integration of girls who are victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Ndayisenga said that some of the most recurring scenarios are when parents of the victim are offered money and because of poor livelihoods they accept it for the care of the pregnant girl and unborn baby, among other reasons. Another scenario, according to him, is when families opt to not report the perpetrator because of not wanting spoil cordial relationship they might have with that of the perpetrator. Ndayisenga also pointed out that there are some individuals in local authorities that play a role in mediating the family of the victim and the perpetrator under the influence of corruption. Jeanette Bayisenge, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, emphasized that it is illegal for one to act as a mediator between the family of the victim and the perpetrator. Anyone who will be found doing that will be charged as conspirators to the crime of defilement, warned the minister. “More awareness needs to be done for victims to come out and report the perpetrators, and accomplices should also be punished as well,” she said. According to Rwanda Investigation Bureau, a total of 12,840 defilement cases were recorded across the country in three years (August 2018-June 2021), an increase of 1,897 from the previous three-year period. The cases involved 13,646 victims and 13,485 suspects. Among cases recorded during the three-year period, they include 1,163 cases of incest – involving family members who defile children they live with.
