Cases of gender-based violence are rising in the country casting a dark shadow over the government’s recent achievements in women empowerment.

While Rwanda ranks favourably globally in empowering women by including them in key leadership roles and policy making, Rwanda Today has learnt that the National Public Prosecution Author¬ity (NPPA) registered at least 2,996 child defilement cases in 2017/2018 compared with 2,086 registered in 2016-2017. About 1,866 were filed in court and 1,096 cases closed.

NPPA also registered 505 rape cases in 2017/2018 compared with 308 cases registered in 2016/2017. About 222 cases were filed in court while 273 cases were closed.

This is in addition to 1,091 cases of domestic violence in 2017/2018 compared with 736 cases in 2016/2017. About 775 cases were filed in court while 301 cases were closed.

According to Prosecutor-General Jean Bosco Mutangana property and family wrangles are among the leading causes of domestic violence.

Prevention

Rights activists said there was a need to focus on prevention of crimes especially those committed between partners.

“It is a shame to see a rise in gender-based crimes, especially those involving partners. It means more still needs to be done at the local level,” said Yvonne Uwayisenga, a former Member of Parliament commenting on the recent statistics.

Ms Uwayisenga said families should be encouraged to settle conflicts outside the courtroom to avoid lawyer fees and wasted time.

The use of ICT has boosted the capacity of the National Public Prosecution Authority to investigate and prosecute crimes.

This includes IT-based infrastructure and human personnel, such as the expansion of the Internet communication network and integrated electronic case management system, which manages data and stores evidence and investigation collected.

“We are not prosecuting people for the sake of it, we have improved treatment of cases,” said Mr Mutangana during a recent press briefing about the authority’s achievements.

Mr Mutangana said the prosecution recorded a higher conviction rate — the proportion at which the prosecuting authority wins cases that are tried by different courts across the country — of 92.1 per cent due to the use of ICT services.

While the prosecution recorded a 92.1 per cent conviction rate, this is a slight decrease compared with the previous year whose conviction rate was 92.5 per cent against the 93 per cent target set at the beginning of 2017 fiscal year.

Mr Mutangana refuted claims that some people were only prosecuted to push a good image of the authority rather than to deliver justice, especially on cases related to gender-based violence. Mr Mutangana said the authority preferred going to court with a few strong cases.

He added that his office has dropped several cases because of lack of evidence, including financial crimes, which have been given priority although the latest push to digitise systems and services has contributed greatly to the high conviction rate.

Out of atotal 43,226 cases received in the past fiscal year, 29,176 cases were taken to court; 13,418 cases were closed, while 632 cases are pending.