Between 2021 and 2024, 15,497 child abuse cases were documented. The breakdown is as follows: 5,143 cases in 2021-2022, 5,296 in 2022-2023, and 5,058 in 2023-2024.
Notably, 14,234 of these incidents were classified as child defilement, according to the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).
This marks a rise compared to 2019, when RIB recorded 10,842 gender-based violence (GBV) crimes, with child defilement, assault, and domestic abuse being the most prevalent.
Historical data reveals that at least 10,456 children were sexually abused between 2017 and 2019, primarily girls aged between 10 and 17, with only 2 percent being boys.
Thierry Murangira, RIB’s spokesperson, attributed the increase in reported cases to greater public awareness rather than an actual rise in abuse incidents.
“The increase in reports reflects improved awareness and the ability to report these crimes, not necessarily a rise in their occurrence,” Murangira explained, highlighting that awareness campaigns have played a significant role.
Murangira emphasized the importance of vigilance and urged citizens, healthcare professionals, and authorities to actively report and combat child abuse.
“We encourage everyone to speak out to help eradicate this crime,” he said.
He also stressed that child abuse is a grave offense that cannot be resolved through mediation.
“There is no room for mediation in child abuse cases. Perpetrators are brought to justice and face punishment, regardless of when the crime occurred,” he concluded.