Child protection
Violence, neglect, exploitation and abuse affect children in homes, families, schools, communities and other places where children should feel safe.
- English
- Kinyarwanda
The challenge
Violence against children and young people is a fundamental violation of their rights. Sexual, physical and emotional violence have a devastating impact on health and happiness and prevent children and young people from contributing fully to society.
In Rwanda, 5 in 10 girls and 6 in 10 boys experience some form of violence during childhood, according to the national Violence Against Children and Youth Survey. Children are usually abused by people they know – parents, neighbours, teachers, romantic partners or friends. Many children who experience violence never tell anyone, and boys are even less likely than girls to do so.
In many cases, children and young people do not seek help because they feel violence is their fault or is not a problem. Many also believe that women should tolerate violence, especially to keep the family together, and that men should hold the power in sexual relationships.
Violence causes emotional scars that often last long after the physical scars fade.
When children are victims of violence, they are more likely to abuse other children and to carry this violent behaviour into adulthood. Violence during childhood can also lead to mental distress, early pregnancy, sexual risk-taking, and even thoughts of suicide.
Urgent action is needed to respond to the violence inflicted on children and young people.
The solution
The child protection system in Rwanda is still emerging. The number of children in need continues to exceed the system’s ability to care for them.
UNICEF has helped the Government of Rwanda make several important improvements in recent years:
- Establishment of Isange One Stop Centres across the country, where victims can report violence, receive mental health counselling, and access medical services.
- Building a workforce of professional social workers and psychologists, legal experts, police, and almost 30,000 community child protection volunteers known as “Inshuti z’Umuryango” or “Friends of the Family”. These “Friends of the Family” help identify, refer and respond to cases of violence, abuse and neglect in their communities.
- Finding loving family homes for thousands of children who previously lived in orphanages and other institutions.
- Development of the Justice for Children Policy in 2013 and the Justice for Children guidance in 2017.
In Rwanda, UNICEF focuses on strengthening the national child protection system alongside the Government. We envision a child protection system which can help prevent and respond to violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect.
This system would ensure that:
National institutions can legislate, plan, budget, coordinate and enforce child protection at all levels of government.
Child protection service providers can deliver these services efficiently and effectively.
All girls and boys – including their families – can prevent and respond to violence, neglect, exploitation and abuse, especially by addressing social norms which perpetuate violence and discrimination.