Prosecutors and trainees at the launch of the three day seminar
Sixty prosecutors and investigators across the country have started essential training in investigating and prosecuting human trafficking and transnational crimes.
The three-day training that started at Lemigo hotel runs from 3 to 5 December, this year.
This training aims at combating human trafficking and transnational crimes through sharing investigative and prosecution skills.
It comes after report from ministry of justice indicated that, Human trafficking victims are reluctant to testify, while traffickers are often beyond reach for conviction.
This Training covers several topics including confidence on duty, integrity, and know-how in conducting deep investigation with equity.
Other topics include putting forward public interest, respect, protect, and uphold dignity and human rights.
The trainees are forty local prosecutors and investigators and twenty from other African countries including Uganda, Kenya and Namibia.
The training is facilitated by two trainers from Attorney General Alliance (AGA) in United States Of America and one from Kenya.
AGA is a USA based alliance of legal practitioners experienced in investigating and prosecuting human trafficking and transnational crimes.Rwanda is among countries affected by Human Trafficking vices.
According to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), for the last five years, over 189 Human Trafficking cases were recorded.
Last year alone, RIB recorded 49 cases involving 80 victims, 78 suspects apprehended and 25 victims rescued and repatriated to their respective countries.
“We are trying to control these crimes. But traffickers are not sleeping neeither. They keep changing techniques. So we need to share skills and train our investigators and prosecutors on handling human trafficking cases,” said Aimable Havugiyaremye, the Rwanda’s Prosecutor General at the launch of the training.
“Most of the traffickers tell lies to young girls and boys, about getting them well-paying jobs abroad. We have to be ahead of the traffickers to combat these vices.”
The Eleven Burundian women and one man who were rescued at Akanyaru border post on January 10, 2017 while attempting to cross to Uganda through Rwanda and their final destination was United Emirates Arab, Qatar and Oman.
According to Havugiyaremye, Rwanda is mainly a transit point, with most victims coming from neighbouring countries including Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) worldwide report of June indicated that, the most common form of human trafficking (79%) is sexual exploitation, with victims predominantly being women and girls.
“To use Rwanda as an example 0f other countries, over 700 indicted fugitives who participated in 1994 genocide against the Tutsi are still at large within Africa,” John Edozie, International advisor of AGA said.
“They have not been convicted.”
“Just like that case, human trafficking vice needs international collaboration, sharing information to gather as many information as possible for perpetrators to be brought to book.”
