Police in Nyabihu District have urged mothers to take a lead in advancing children’s rights. The call was made during a meeting with about 20 single mothers yesterday in Mukamira Sector. While addressing the mothers, the District Community Liaison officer, Assistant Inspector of Police Marie Rose Uwizera, requested for stronger partnership between police and the parents to promote and protect the rights of children. She explained to them that a child has a right to live, acquire education, good health, shelter, and clothing, among others. “You should as well protect children from any form of discrimination since it could affect their mental growth…you need to also keep a close eye on your children to protect them from child trafficking, and give them proper upbringing,” AIP Uwizera told the parents. She noted that there are parents who subject their children to corporal punishments thinking that it’s the best way of disciplining them. “Verbal assault can as well be a crime against a child like child labor and other offenses such as defilement and denying them a right to education. We must, therefore, treat each child in society very well; every respectable mother should be the eyes and ears of the law in society by immediately reporting cases of child abuse to Police. Through quick response, we can protect children and ensure their rights are observed,” said Uwizera. One of the residents, Confiance Nyiramahirwe, thanked the Police for the awareness campaign, saying sometimes parents commit offences ignorantly. The campaign came days after a similar one held in Komonyi District, where the District Police Commander, Superintendent of Police Donath Kinani, called upon mothers to take the lead in ensuring maximum respect for children’s rights. In October, 2015 Police in partnership with World Vision Rwanda unveiled a ‘Child Helpline’ facility valued at Rwf162 million to ease the communication and response to child-related abuses. The helpline uses a short code toll-free 116. It has the capacity to receive at least 30 calls simultaneously. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
