Addresing cross genaration sex

Cross generation sex has impacted negatively on the lives of some Rwandese especially the youth. Cross generation sex is an intimate relationship between the youth of the age group 18-25 yrs with partners close to the age of their parents in other word ‘’sugar mummy or sugar daddy relationships.’’ This act has led to the increase in the spread of HIV/AIDS and especially among the youth. During the campaign to address cross generation sex held on the 27th May 2009 here in Rwanda the youth minister honourable Protais Mitala said that ‘’all institution in the country should help address the trend in order to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS among the young people. According to the data provided by the executive secretary of the commission addressing cross generation Anita Asimwe, it shows that women between the age of 20-24 are more likely to be HIV-positive than the men of their age and every 10girls one had their first sexual experiences with a man 10yrs or more years older. Under the banner cross generation sex there is ‘’something for something love’’ it’s the give and take kind of relationship were by these older men and women give the youth little presents such as phones ,cheap cars and expensive outings pretending to be loving them yet in the actual sense they want to quench the sexual appetite. A case in hand is the kasamba lodge incident when a man took a 16 year old girl to the lodge and spent there three days yet she was supposed to be at school. Failures in marriages and high rate of divorce in Rwanda today are as a result of cross generation sex. The sugar mummy and sugar daddy relationships are highly dominated by the married people. Due to the many problems couples face in their marriages the resort to being unfaithful to their partners hence building relationships with young girls and boys who are very naive in relationship matters. Most culprits of cross generation sex are faced with a lot of challenges during marriage life thinking its “a bed of roses’’ due to the first relationship encounters they were pampered and they find out that its different when married thus leading to divorce. Cross generations sex has led to high rate of sexual abuse in society today. Acts such as rape, incest, bestiality all result from failure of maintaining health and disciplined relationships. Relating with a girl or boy close to the age of your son or daughter portrays lack dignity and respect for one’s self . Parents and community leaders should sensitize the youth and educate them to never to fall victims of unhealthy relationships such as sugar mummy and sugar daddy kind of relations. Different measures should be taken in order to curb down this vice such as educating the youth, displaying billboards discouraging such relationships with use of logos or slogans condemning cross generation sex and use of theatre hence reviving tomorrow’s generation. email: doranzo@yahoo.co.uk