Women seeking employment or working in the private sector are more likely to be abused, a new study released yesterday by Transparency International (TR) indicates.

According to the report, "Gender-Based Corruption at work places”, cases of corruption occur when seeking employment, promotions and salary increment.

The survey adds that the perpetrators are mostly men (83%) especially directors and senior staff.

The Chairperson of TR, Marie Immaculee Ingabire, said the survey was conducted because the notion of gender based corruption has not yet attracted the legislators’ attention.

 "Although our country has put in place mechanisms to fight all forms of corruption, it’s quite disturbing that so many of our citizens experience cases of gender-based corruption in their offices,” she added.

According to the report, women have to deal with sexually suggestive language or denial of services and opportunities when sexual-related advances are declined.

Speaking at the launch of the report, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Aloisea Inyumba,  said that reporting on corruption cases is one of the adequate weapons of fighting against corruption.

"We must get all Rwandans ready to break the cycle of silence against gender based corruption and ensure that all reported cases are handled in due course,” she added.

Inyumba urged the private sector to put in place mechanisms to tackle gender based corruption in their institutions.

Speaking to The New Times, the Chief Executive Officer of the Private Sector Federation, Rogers Munyampenda, said that employers have been issued with a code of conduct to help fight against all forms of corruption at work places.

Ingabire called upon employers in private, public and civil society institutions to put in place measures to prevent and punish such cases.

The survey carried out in 240 organisations, explored the performance and usage of the strategies and mechanisms designed to report and prevent cases of gender-based corruption at work places.

TR is a non-governmental and non-profit organisation whose objective is to fight against corruption and related offences.

Ends