Rwanda’s Government, human rights institutions, and civil society groups have joined hands to strengthen the protection of children’s rights with a special focus on children living with disabilities. During the 13th Session of the National Committee for Monitoring the Respect of the Rights of the Child and People with Disabilities, officials discussed family conflicts, child abuse, poverty, and other challenges that still affect children’s lives even after 20 years of good progress in the country.
The meeting, organized in partnership with Haguruka NGO and National Commission for Human Rights brought together government ministries, local authorities, and non-governmental organizations. It focused on the family’s role in child protection, the importance of community action, and stronger coordination between state and non-state actors.
According to the organizers, key areas of concern included:
- Combating child labor
- Monitoring the effective implementation of child protection policies
- Providing support to children born to teenage mothers
- Advocating for the creation of specialized GBV courts for children
Family Issues at the Centre
Hon. Uwimana Consolée, Minister of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), said during the 24th National Women’s Council meeting that protecting children begins with improving family relationships at home
“We must first examine how we behave in our own families, because it is difficult to go and advise someone else about family conflicts while we also have them, Members of the National Women’s Council should look at how they live with their spouses, because this will help them bring peace to other families facing conflicts.” she said
The Minister also urged women to take an active role in Rwanda’s upcoming local elections, planned for next year:
“In the coming year, there will be local government elections. I encourage women not only to participate but also to stand as candidates so that more women can be represented,” she said.
Despite Rwanda’s strong progress, Minister Uwimana warned that deep challenges remain. She cited national statistics showing that 27.4% of Rwandans still live in poverty and 33% of children under five are not growing well for their age.
“We celebrate that poverty levels have dropped dramatically from 58.9% in 2001 to 27.4% in 2024, but we also recognize that every one of us must contribute to ending poverty, malnutrition and other problems still affecting children.” she said
This message was highlighted again during the 13th Session of the National Committee for Monitoring the Respect of the Rights of the Child and People with Disabilities, organized with Haguruka NGO and the National Commission for Human Rights.
Key Statistics on Family Challenges
Officials at the meeting shared new findings from a 2024 study by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB). The study looked at the biggest problems inside Rwandan families that harm both adults and children. It showed four main issues:
- Alcohol abuse (82.8%) More than eight out of ten families reported that drinking too much alcohol is a serious problem. Officials explained that alcohol abuse often leads to violence, neglect of children, and the breakdown of family relationships.
- Lack of family communication (82.6%) Almost the same number of families said they do not spend enough time talking or solving problems together. Without open conversations, misunderstandings grow and conflicts become worse, which directly affects children’s safety and emotional health.
- Defamation and infidelity (75.2%) Three out of four families mentioned insults, gossip, and cheating between partners as a problem. Such behavior destroys trust in the home and creates stress for children who live in that environment.
- Misuse of family property (74%) Many families said money and property are often misused or fought over. When parents or guardians fight about resources, children’s basic needs like school fees or food are often neglected.
Officials said these four issues are major barriers to protecting children’s rights in Rwanda. When homes are unstable because of alcohol, poor communication, cheating, or misuse of resources, children are the first victims. They may experience neglect, abuse, or emotional stress, and some end up leaving home or dropping out of school.
The meeting stressed that strong and peaceful families are the foundation of child protection. Participants called for more awareness campaigns, family counselling, and community support to reduce these problems.
Officials Speak Out
Christiane Umuhire, Director of Family Promotion at MIGEPROF, said many children end up on the streets or in risky behavior because of unresolved family problems:
“Conflicts in families’ push children into drugs and bad habits. You find that at home it starts with alcohol abuse, infidelity and other issues. This leaves the child feeling lost and eventually on the street, because children are vulnerable, it is very difficult for them to handle such problems. It often leads to early sexual activity or risky behavior at a very young age.” She said.
Providence Umurungi, President of the National Human Rights Commission, acknowledged Rwanda’s progress in setting up laws and policies but warned that implementation gaps remain:
“Although we have laws, policies and measures to protect children, there are still gaps in putting them into practice, when we visit rehabilitation centers, we find a high number of youth and children in conflict with the law. Most of these cases are linked to family conflicts involving alcohol abuse and parents neglecting their responsibilities.” she said.
She called on all sectors to strengthen cooperation:
“We urge all institutions to work together to protect children, this is not only the government’s role but also that of communities, families and civil society.” she said.
Actions to Protect Children
At the meeting, participants agreed on practical steps to protect children and improve family life:
- Better monitoring of child protection policies: Local authorities will check that laws and rules protecting children are followed properly.
- Awareness campaigns: Communities will be educated about the dangers of alcohol abuse and domestic violence, which harm children and families.
- Support for families with children with disabilities: Families caring for children with special needs will receive help to meet their children’s health, education, and emotional needs.
- Programs for teenage mothers and their children: More services will be provided to support young mothers and ensure their children grow up healthy and safe.
- Special GBV courts for children: Advocates pushed for courts that handle cases of gender-based violence specifically for children, so these cases can be solved quickly and fairly.
These actions aim to make homes safer and more supportive, giving every child a better chance to grow up healthy and protected.
