Rape cases down by 95%

KIGALI - The number of rape cases has reduced by over 95 percent within the past six years, according to a report released by the Rwanda National Police (RNP). The report, released on Tuesday, indicates that only 150 cases had been reported by June this year from the 2,999 registered in 2005. Rape was the highest crime registered in the year 2005 (2,999 cases) and the two following years; 2,962 and 2,9,35 cases respectively. The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Jean d’Arc Mujawamariya attributed the reduction to the introduction of Gender Based Violence (GBV) desk in RNP, which she said was active. “The government now has laws punishing such crimes. There are also laws protecting children, and the general population is now aware because it has been sensitized on human rights and it is now helping in apprehending the wrong doers,” Mujawamariya noted when contacted. She added that the community policing and children rights committees which are now at every Village have helped bring down the crime. The 34 category-crime report indicates that the general crime rate reduced by 50.3 percent since 2005 from 11, 762 to 5,845 cases registered by June this year. Ends