Rwanda please help our Women feel safe and reassured no matter their profession!

By: IT Rwema Webmaster

The commercial sex industry has always been a dangerous place for both the client as well as the provider but Rwanda is facing a crisis worth noting in this area. Women and men who cannot find work in the local sector will often turn to the fast cash of the sex industry all over the world. The popular phrase calls it “the oldest profession in the world.” But what is happening to the prostitutes in Kigali, Rwanda?

In the last 17 days 15 local commercial sex workers have been found strangled to death with three found just last night. Who is killing these women? A random act of violence would not have such a systemic pattern. Fifteen women on 17 days is a serial killing of these women.

Who is behind it? Are the local police investigating these senseless murders? Is the country too busy filling the gap in the government coffers under the guise of Agaciro and national pride that everyone is turning a blind eye on these victims? These questions do not have answers yet.

The Government of Rwanda boasts of their progress for women over the last 17 years with almost half of the seat of Parliament taken by women but who are these women looking out for? Are commercial sex workers worth their time and energy to protect? Or is prostitution too undesirable of a profession in an Agaciro state that casts a shadow of shame on a country now building themselves on national pride.Â

The Rwanda National Police have a twitter feed and they tweet numerous times per day. The vision they state on this page is, “Our Vision: make the people living in Rwanda feel safe and reassured” and their mission is stated as, “We are dedicated to delivering high quality service, accountability and transparency, safeguard the rule of law and provide safe and crime free environment for all.” Their tweets over the last month have covered many topic related to local security; such as bush fires or local domestic disputes and even human trafficking but not once do the mention a serial killing of prostitutes.

Is Superintendent Theo Badege investigating the cases? In the murders from last night a local article stated that there were “used condoms” next to the strangled bodies of the women. Could DNA not be gathered from that evidence?

The people and friends of Rwanda need to ask the police to investigate these vicious murders and patrol the areas where the victims have been found.  The women of Parliament should be standing up for the rights of these commercial sex workers and protecting one more sister, mother, daughter or niece from becoming one more statistic.

Please, Rwanda Police stop senselessly spying on your neighbor’s computers and phones and provide that environment where these women will feel “safe and reassured.”