As Rwanda joined the world to mark the International Day of the African Child, parents were urged to become positive role models for their children. Speaking during national celebrations in Kayonza District on June 16, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Mireille Batamuriza, said creating violence-free homes and embracing positive parenting are critical to safeguarding children's wellbeing and securing Rwanda's future development. Children learn by observing, so parents must be good role models, Batamuriza told the members of the community who had gathered at Groupe Scolaire Rwisirabo in Mwiri Sector under the theme Ndera neza, Nkure nemye (Raise me with care so I grow well). The kind of parenting we want is one based on dialogue, appropriate to the child's stage of development, that protects children and instils values in them. The event brought together parents, local leaders, child protection activists and children. Progress in child wellbeing According to the 2025 Rwanda Statistical Yearbook, vaccination coverage among children against deadly and disabling diseases increased from 86 percent in 1992 to 94 percent in 2025, while infant mortality dropped from 85 deaths per 1,000 live births to 27 over the same period. Child mortality also declined from 151 deaths per 1,000 live births to 36, and stunting among children fell from 56.8 percent to 27 percent. The country has also continued to improve children's access to education and healthcare. According to the 2024 Education Statistical Year Book, education indicators have steadily improved, reinforcing the need to protect children not only through health and schooling but also by ensuring they grow up in supportive and violence-free homes. Batamuriza said achieving Rwanda's development ambitions requires families to end all forms of violence. We want parenting that equips children with knowledge and raises them within strong family environments. To achieve our country's development goals, we need families that are free from all forms of violence, starting with the youngest members of society, She noted. Some parents attending the event said positive parenting could help address persistent challenges such as child neglect, excessive corporal punishment and alcoholism in some households. Jesca Muzirankoni, a parent, reflected on the need to become children's friends by guiding them, listening to them and ensuring their needs are met. Some parents beat children beyond what is acceptable, while others insult them. This can make children withdraw or become afraid to speak about the problems they face, Muzirankoni said. There are also parents struggling with alcoholism who do not know what their children are going through. Children also called for more understanding and communication at home. We want parents who listen to us, talk to us and guide us instead of beating us. When we are heard and loved, we feel safe and can do better in school and in life, said Aline Uwase, 14, who attended the event. Jean Claude Niyonzima, 13, said many children keep their worries to themselves because they fear speaking at home. When we are afraid to speak at home, we keep our worries to ourselves. We need parents to listen and help us solve problems we may have, he said. Psychologists have long argued that early childhood experiences shape children's behaviour and emotional wellbeing later in life. As part of the campaign, officials called on parents, communities and local leaders to promote positive parenting practices, including open communication, non-violent discipline and family counselling, to ensure every child grows up in a caring and protective environment. Children were also taken through sessions on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). Batamuriza also reminded children of their responsibilities. A disciplined child is the one who obeys parents and teachers, you must always have discipline and maintain hygiene, she said. The International Day of the African Child commemorates the 1976 Soweto uprising in South Africa and serves as a reminder that protecting children's rights is a shared responsibility that extends beyond government institutions to families and communities.
