Local leaders and Police in Rwamagana District have raised the red flag over increased cases of sexual exploitation of minors.This was during a one-day workshop on Thursday organised by the Association of Rwanda Women Journalists, to discuss the issue of underage pregnancies.Addressing hundreds of students, parents, teachers and local leaders, Faith Mbabazi, the Association president said the objective was to bring stakeholders together to fight underage pregnancies. Rwamagana District Judicial Police officer AIP Emmanuel Kayigi said a total of 37 cases of child abuse had so far been reported this year; an issue he said threatened the girl-child education. He said cases of rape and defilement had reached alarming levels and serious efforts should be made to reverse the trend. “Last year we recordedunbelievable cases of teenage pregnancies; For instance, in Nsinda School alone, we had 24 cases. In Nsheke school of Gahini sector, 10 children were reported pregnant. Known cases totalled 65. We believe there could be many others that are not reported to police,” he said.AIP Gahigi lamented a situation where a 13-year old girl was impregnated by an HIV positive teacher in the area, adding that the teacher died before the child pregnancy was reported to the police.“The figure may double if we don’t act. The unfortunate thing is that some pregnant children were also found HIV positive.”According to the Association of Rwanda Women Journalists, at least 600 school students across the country were found pregnant last year.Valerie Rubibi, who represented the district leadership at the workshop, said that the parents were partly to blame for child pregnancies.“The issue of poor parenting is haunting our society…few parents care about their daughters. Girls are allowed to keep away from homes for days attending weddings and funeral ceremonies, yet they are not responsible enough.”He noted that children were adopting the Western lifestyle that would harm them in the long run.Margareta Nyinawumuntu, a mother of six, noted that the fight against teenage pregnancies was practically left for the police alone.“Police cannot handle the issue alone. Its work is to arrest and prosecute. Other stakeholders should join hands in finding a lasting solution to the problem,” she said.
