JuliaChiado

11/19/14
CountryReport:Rwanda
1)Whichcountryhaveyoustudied?
Rwanda
2)Provideanoverviewthatexplainswhetherthiscountryisasource,transit,and/or
destinationforinternationalhumantrafficking,and/orwhether
trafficking/enslavementarelargelyinternalwithinthecountry(e.g.fromruralto
urbanareas,orlocalenslavementonfarmsorindomesticservitude,etc.)Explain
andsubstantiateyourresponse.
Itisestimatedthatatotalof76,00084,000peopleareenslavedinRwanda,whichis
equivalentto.7114%ofthepopulation(4).AccordingtotheU.S.DepartmentofStates2013
TraffickinginPersonsReport,Rwandaservesasprimarilyasourcecountryforforcedlaborand
sextrafficking,althoughitalsoisatransitanddestinationcountrytoalesserextent(5).A
majorityofdomesticservitudecasesareinternal,anditiscommonforvictimstobetrafficked
intoneighboringcountriesandareassuchasUnitedArabEmirates,China,Malaysia,Europe,
andtheUnitedStates(6).
AccordingtotheUnitedStatesDepartmentofStates2014TIPSreportandscale,
RwandacurrentlyholdsaTier2status(5),andhasbeenplacedontheU.S.Departmentof
Stateswatchlist.Tier2AccordingtodeputycommissionerTonyKurambaofRwandas
CriminalInvestigationDepartment,36caseshavebeeninvestigatedand153peoplerescued
fromtraffickingintheyearsof2009to2013(6)
3)Ifthisisadestinationcountryand/orifthereisinternalhumantrafficking,which
formsoftraffickingarecommoninthiscountry?(Ifyouthinkthatthereareno
formsoftraffickinghappeningwithinthiscountry,providecitationsaboutthat,and
somereasonswhyitisnothappening.Thereasonsdon'thavetobeproven,butthey
mustbeplausible.)
Asadestinationcountry,womenandchildrenfromneighboringcountriesandSomalia
aretraffickedintoRwandatobeexploitedinforcedprostitutionandlabor.Internally,girls(and
someboys,buttoalesserextent)areinvolvedinforceddomesticwork,whichmostlyoccurs
withinextendedfamilynetworks.Whiledoingthiskindofforcedlabor,itiscommonforthese

childrentohavetheirwageswithheld,andmanyexperiencephysicalandsexualabuse.Other
formsoftraffickingandslaveryoccurwhenoldergirls/womenrecruityoungeronestoworkin
brothelstopayoffdebts.Brothelownersalsoexploityounggirlstoservemeninhotelswithin
thecountry(5).
Inaddition,itwasreportedthatin2013,Rwandangovernmentofficialswereinvolvedin
therecruitingofchildrenandprovidingmaterialsupporttotheM23,anarmedgroupoperating
inEasternDemocraticRepublicofCongo.Rwandanarmyofficerswerealsoreportedlyforcibly
returningRwandandeserterstotheDRC(5).InNovemberof2013,theM23weremilitarily
defeated,andtheRwandangovernmentdidnotreinforcethemthroughfinalcombat.Support
andrecruitmentbytheRwandangovernmentstoppedaltogetherwhenthegroupwasdefeated.
TherealsohavebeencasesofindividualsbeingtraffickedthroughRwandabefore
reachinganothercountry.Anexampleofthisoccurredin2013,whenanumberofpotential
victimsfromAfricacamethroughtheKigaliairport,locatedinthenationscapital,assumedto
beontheirwaytobetraffickedandtakentocountriesintheMiddleEast.Laborrecruitersbased
inKampalaandNairobicoercedtheseworkerswithfalseoffersofworkand/orthreatsofdebtor
fees.Theselaborrecruitersandbrokerstrainedthetraffickedindividualstobeabletoidentify
andavoiddetectionattheRwandanbordercrossing,andinothercasessmugglerswerehiredto
assistingettingvictimsacrosstheborder(5).
4)Ifthisisasourcecountry,intowhichformsofhumantraffickingandintowhich
countriesarecitizensfromthiscountrycommonlytrafficked?(Ifyouthinkthatthere
islittleornotraffickingofpeoplefromthiscountryinternationally,providecitations
aboutthat,andsomereasonswhyitisnothappening.Thereasonsdon'thavetobe
proven,buttheymustbeplausible.)
Asasourcecountry,victimsfromRwandaaretraffickedtoothercountries,suchas
Kenya,Burundi,DemocraticRepublicofCongo(DRC),Uganda,SouthAfricatheUnitedArab
Emirates,China,Malaysia,Europe,andtheUnitedStates(6).Inmostcasesthesevictimsof
traffickingaresubjectedtoforcedagriculturalandindustriallabor,prostitution,and/ordomestic
servitude.
Rwandanbasedrefugeecampsserveasatargetfortraffickerstolocateandcoerce
individualsintoslavery.ThesetraffickersusuallytaketheformofotherRwandanorUgandan
refugeesorsugardaddies(5).Victimsaretypicallytraffickedintothecapital,Kigali,oracross
theborderintoUganda,Kenya,Sudan,orSouthSudantoworkinvariousformsofexploitative
situations.RwandanwomenandchildrenarealsotakentoKenya,Uganda,DRC,Tanzania,
Burundi,Zambia,SouthAfrica,France,Netherlands,MalaysiaandChinaandbecomeinvolved
inforcedagricultural/industriallabor,domesticservitude,andprostitution(5).

In2013,17suspectedoffendersofsextraffickingtransnationallywereinvestigated,as
reportedbytheRwandanNationalPolice(RNP)andNationalPublicProsecutionAuthority
(NPPA).ThesecasesinvolvedRwandanwomenandgirlsbeingtraffickedforcommercialsex
workbyRwandanorUgandanrecruiters(5).
5)Whatarethecurrentnationallawsagainsthumantraffickinginthiscountryand
howhavetheybeenassessedbylegalexperts(e.g.bytheU.N.,theU.S.DeptofState
TIPReport,and/ortheProtectionProject)?
Rwandaspenalcode,whichwasputintoeffectin2012,condemnstraffickingofpersons
asacriminalizingactinmultiplearticles.However,thislawisextremelylimitingasitrestricts
traffickingtoactswhichinvolvemovementofpersons(5).Thismeansthatcertaincrimesof
trafficking,suchastraffickingofapersonforprostitutionwithoutphysicaltraffickingacrossa
distance,arenotclearlycriminalizedifnomovementisinvolved.Somesectionsofthelawalso
articulatepenaltiesmoreseriousforsomecrimesoftrafficking,makingthecodeinconsistentand
confusing.
Otherlegislationhasbeenpassedinrecentyearstoprotectindividualsfromtraffickingin
Rwanda.In2011,theRwandangovernmentestablishedaNationalCommissionforChildrento
promotechildrensrights,aswellasdevelopedaplanofactiontoprotectchildrenfromabuse,
violenceandexploitation(1).Inaddition,TheLawRelatingtotheRightsandProtectionofthe
Child,wasenactedin2012.UnderArticle51,itoutlawschildtrafficking,prostitutionand
slavery(5).However,itdoesnotspecifypenaltiesalongwiththeprohibitions.Thismakesit
extremelydifficulttoenforceandregulatetheformsofslaverythatareoutlawedwithinthe
Article.
AsaTier2country,accordingtothe2014TIPSreport,theRwandasgovernmentdoes
notfullycomplywiththeminimumstandardsfortheeliminationoftrafficking,butaremaking
significanteffortstodoso.Inthepastyearof2013,thegovernmentinvestigated17suspected
traffickersandmadeanefforttoprosecute11defendants(5).However,theydidnotsucceedin
convictinganyoneaccusedofhumantrafficking.Thegovernmentwasinvolvedintheproviding
ofsupporttotheM23groupuntilitsdissolvement,whichrunscountertoitspreviouseffortsto
helppreviousvictimsofforcedcombat,andthegovernmentrefusestoacknowledgetheir
actions.Becauseofthisfailure,RwandawasonceagainplacedontheTier2WatchList.
AccordingtotheGlobalSlaveryIndex,Rwandareceivedagovernmentresponserating
ofCC.ThismeansthattheRwandangovernmenthasprovidedalimitedresponsetoslavery,
withlargelybasicvictimsupportservices,alimitedcriminaljusticeframework,limited
coordinationorcollaborationmechanism,andfewprotectionsforthosevulnerabletomodern

slavery(4).Thisratingisalsocharacterizedbypotentialofthegovernmenttobeinvolvedor
complicitinthefacilitatingofslavery.Thisratingappearstobeaccurate,especiallygiventhe
reportsofthegovernmentassistingtheM23groupintraffickingindividualsforthegroup.
6)Whichtypesofantitraffickingeffortsbywhichtypesofactorsareevidentinthis
country?(alongwithageneralsummary,providebriefdescriptionsandURLsof23
noteworthyexamples)
Althoughithasbeenproventhatthegovernmenthasinsomewaysfacilitatedtrafficking
inRwanda,thepoliceforcehashadapresenceininvolvementinantitraffickingeffortsona
nationallevel.Althoughthelevelofsuccessisdebatable,theyseemtohavemadesignificant
effortstohelpwithidentificationandprosecutionofcasesofhumantrafficking,especiallyinthe
pastyear.ThepoliceofRwandahasalsobeeninvolvedwithNGOsandrehabilitationcentersin
ordertocreatesafeenvironmentsforvictimsoftrafficking.Examplesofnoteworthyexamplesof
actorsinclude:
IsangeCenter:http://www.unicef.org/rwanda/media_8374.html
TheIsangeCenterwascreatedin2009byUNICEF,UNIFEM,UNFPA,andotherpartnersto
assistsurvivorsofchilddomesticabuseandgenderbasedviolence(3).Theyofferafreehotline,
assistanceininvestigation,protection,medicalcare,support,andassistanceincollecting
evidence.Overthepastyear,policehavereferredsexandlabortraffickingvictimstotheInsange
Center.ThiscenterhasservedasaonestopholisticfacilitywithintheKaciryupolicehospital
inKigalithatprovidedavarietyofassistancetovictimsofgenderbasedviolence,including
childdomesticworkersandchildreninprostitution(5).Atthisfacilityastaffofsocialworkers
hasformulatedasystemofinterviewingandquestoinstoassessvictims,theirsituation,andtheir
needsinordertoprovideassistance.In2012,thegovernmentassistedinopeningfoursimilar
additionalonestopfacilitiesatpublicdistricthospitals.
RwandaNationalPolice(RNP):http://www.police.gov.rw/home/
TheRwandaNationalPoliceforcehasrecentlybeenmakingprogressintheirinvolvementin
antitraffickingefforts.Atall75policestationsinthecountrythereisatleastonejudicialpolice
officer.Alljudicialpoliceofficersthatarecertifiedinseriouscrimeshavebeentrainedto
identifyandassistvictimsoftrafficking,aswellasbeingabletoassistwithinvestigationand
prosecutingtraffickingcases(5).
NationalPublicProsecutionAuthority:http://nppa.gov.rw/home/?L=1
TheNationalPublicProsecutionAuthorityhasworkedtogetherwiththeRwandaNationalPolice
toidentifyandinvestigatecrimesofhumantraffickinginRwanda.Asstatedabove,in2013,the

twoentitiesworkedtoinvestigate17casesofhumantrafficking,andinitiatetheprosecutionof
11,andaportionwereconvictedoftheircrimes.Inaddition,inthepastyear,NPPAmadethe
efforttohire10additionalprosecutorsintheirgenderbasedviolenceunit,whichhandlescases
ofhumantrafficking(5).
7)Whatarethemainobstaclestoantitraffickingeffortswithinthiscountryand/orofthis
countryscitizensinternationally?
Asignificantobstacleiscorruptionandthegovernmentslackofenforcement.As
mentionedabove,thegovernmentcontinuedtoprovidesupporttheM23rebelgroup,evenafter
appearingtomakeconsiderableeffortstoprovidecareforformerchildsoldiers(5).Thissupport
involvedtheactualrecruitmentofchildren,evenfromanRDRCrundemobilizationand
rehabilitationcenterinMutobo.Althoughsupportofthegroupdissolvedaftertheywere
defeated,theissuemuststillbeaddressedinordertoassurethatkindofsupportdoesnot
continueintothefuture.
Additionally,thecountrylacksaformaloverseeingbodyforantitraffickingefforts.The
NationalPoliceForceandNationalPublicProsecutionAuthorityworkascoordinators,butthere
isnooneentitythatcanfullycommittoantitraffickingonanationallevel.Thislackofdirect
andconsistentsupport,aswellasthelackofanationalactionplan,hasresultedindisparitysuch
aslackofadequatescreeningandthesmallnumberoftraffickingcasesthathavebeenreported
andinvestigatedinthepastyear.Coordinationactionisneededinantitraffickingeffortsin
Rwanda.
Anotherissuethatneedsaddressingislackofpropersupportforvictims.Oftentimes
traffickedindividualsarebroughttothepoliceforassistance,butareletgowithoutproper
screening.ThisoftenoccursinprivateorNGOrunrehabilitationcentersforstreetchildrenthat
arevulnerabletoexploitationandprostitution.Insomecases,screeninginordertodetermine
eligibilitytotransfertootherrehabilitationcentersortohelpreconnectwithfamilieswasnot
consistent,andresultedinvulnerablegroupsnotgettingthehelpandassistancetheyneeded(5).
Asaresultofimproperscreening,manytraffickedvictimsendedupbeingdetainedinprisonor
attheNyagatareRehabilitationCenterforunlawfulactscommittedduetobeingtrafficked
previously.Thiscanbepreventedif,asstatedabove,aformaloverseeingbodywascreated
withinthegovernmenttofocusonantitraffickingeffortsandthebestwaytohelprecovering
victims.Ifthisisdeveloped,thenbettercoordinationcanbeenactedwithNGOsandother
groupstoprovideservicestothosethatneedit.Similarly,thecountryandvictimswouldbenefit
fromspecificfacilitiesforvictimsoftrafficking,insteadofsendingsurvivorstofacilitiesthatare
originallymeantforvictimsofgenderbasedviolence.Thiswouldensurethattheyarehelped
accordingtotheirspecificneeds,whichwouldincludeproperscreening.

GiventhegenocideandconflictthatoccurredinRwandainthe1990s,thecountryisstill
intheprocessofrebuilding.However,giventhespeedofprogressthathasalreadyoccurredin
thepastyears,IbelievethegovernmentofRwandawillcontinuetoincreaseeffortstocombat
humantrafficking.
8)References
WorksCited

1. "ChildProtection."UNICEFRwanda.N.p.,n.d.Web.23Nov.2014.
2. "HumanTrafficking&ModerndaySlaveryRwanda."HumanTrafficking&
ModerndaySlaveryRwanda.N.p.,n.d.Web.21Nov.2014.
3. "MediaCentre:IsangeCenter."UNICEFRwanda.N.p.,n.d.Web.23Nov.2014.
4. "RwandaWalkFreeFoundationGlobalSlaveryIndex2014."WalkFreeFoundation
GlobalSlaveryIndex2014.N.p.,n.d.Web.21Nov.2014.
5. "Rwanda."U.S.DepartmentofState.U.S.DepartmentofState,n.d.Web.19Nov.2014.
6. Uwiringiyimana,Clement."RwandaStepsupHumanTraffickingFight,Rescues150
Victims."Reuters.ThomsonReuters,09Oct.2014.Web.19Nov.2014.