0
0
By Jeanne Francoise UMUMARARUNGU
Despite the punishment and imprisonment of men or young men who impregnate girls under the age of majority, the problem of teenage pregnancies is increasing instead of ending, because as the years pass by the issue increases.
This happens when the law stipulates that a child who is conceived before the age of 18, the perpetrator is punished with a 25-year prison term and may even be imprisoned for life. Despite this, some of the teenagers who have been pregnant find that locking up the perpetrators does not immediately give them a real solution because what they want is help in raising the children they gave birth to, as those in the parenting situation said.
Mary (a created name) said that she found no solution in imprisoning those men and young men who got an underage girl pregnant because she will need the facilitation after giving a birth. As an example, when I was in maternity my family left me with hunger; isn’t easy to survive the situation as a fresh mother. Life is difficult out here you need a husband on your side, the importance is discussion with both families.
Another young mother says that even though he gives no support but free of imprisonment is not the same as being behind bars.
The head of the Non-Governmental Organization for Human Rights (STARDH) BIZIMANA Alphonse says that the punishment should be given to the perpetrators, but 25 years is a heavy punishment when it does not solve the problem. The solution is to see where to find what will help those two children ( new baby born and his or her mother).
The Spokesperson of the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB)) MURANGIRA B. Thierry says that parents should not hide these men as well as support the person who is pregnant. He added that the law will be followed and those criminals pay for what they did in order to give lessons to others. This will reduce sexual abuse because by the time laws are bent nothing will be changed.
A recent study released by Migeprof in 2021 shows that 23 thousand teenagers are pregnant. The top districts in having the most teenage abortions are Nyagatare, Gatsibo and Nyabihu.
