Kayonza: Five arrested over child exploitation

The Inspirer.

Five men from Mukarange sector in Kayonza district who were using underage children in clay transportation were arrested.

The incident took place on Thursday, August 31, 2023, in the marshland located in Mburabuturo cell, Mukarange sector according to IGIHE.

This medium has previously learnt that many children aged between 8 and 12 including those who dropped out of school expressed concern of their exploitation in clay transportation, the crime done by adults in their own benefits.

Eyewitnesses say many children were present on the site in the marshland carrying huge luggage of clays from the site to the burning location.

According to IGIHE, security organs this morning of September 1, 2023, have gone to the crime site in the marshland and all the involved children have run a way. The suspected men were immediately arrested.

Exploited child is given Rwf1,000 after transporting 1,000 clays.

Despite the tough task that exhausts children’s energy, many children from this cell have dropped out of school to work for this money.

Alphonse Ngarambe, Ag.Executive Secretary of Mukarange sector confirmed the information that five men were arrested over child exploitation crime.

“We have arrested five men over child exploitation, involving them in clay transportation. The suspects are those who have clay manufacturing business in Mburabuturo marshland,” he said.

Ngarambe warns the public especially those having firms to not involve children in such energy exhausting tasks as child exploitation is punished by child protection laws.

While further investigation on the case is under progress, the suspects are jailed at Mukarange RIB station.

More than 8,300 children have been rescued from child labour since 2016 and brought back to school.

The Sustainable Development Goal 16.2 eliminates child exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children.

Understanding Child exploitation

Child exploitation is the act of using a minor child for profit, labor, sexual gratification, or some other personal or financial advantage. It often results in cruel or harmful treatment of the child, as the activities he or she may be forced to take part in, it can cause emotional, physical, and social problems.

The Knowsley Safeguarding Children Partnership defines the exploitation of anyone under-18 as situations, contexts, and relationships where young people receive ‘something’ (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, affection, gifts, money) as a result of them completing a task for another individual or group.

The article 117 of the law N° 66/2018 of 30/08/2018 regulating labour in Rwanda, about offences and penalties relating to prohibited work for the child states that an employer who personally subjects a child to any of the prohibited forms of work for the child referred to under Article 6 of this Law, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two (2) years and not more than five (5) years and a fine of not less than five hundred thousand Rwandan francs (FRW 500,000) and not more than five million Rwandan francs (FRW 5,000,000) or one of these penalties.

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