In partnership with Rwanda Correctional Services, the National Commission for children (NCC) celebrated Christmas joy with children living with their mothers who are serving their sentences in Musanze prison. The event took place on Thursday December 28th, 2017 in Musanze prison compound.
NCC usually holds such annual Christmas celebrations with vulnerable children including those with disability and children living in rehabilitation centres to express the Rwandan government’s commitment to provide children with their rights without any form of discrimination or denial of their rights and privileges.
NCC brought food stuffs and drinks, clothes, shoes and other items as gifts for kids to wish them Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Mr. Francois Bisengimana, Director of Adoption Protection and Promotion of Child Rights in the National Commission for Children (NCC) said the event was an opportunity to fulfill NCC’s responsibility to protect and promote the rights of all children in Rwanda.
“It is not just wishing Merry Christmas to these kids and giving them gifts. It is rather a way of reminding ourselves our fundamental responsibility of protecting and promoting children’s rights All these are children’s rights. They should actually get such services be it in prisons with their mothers, on the street, in orphanages or in rehabilitation centres.” he said.
According to Rwanda Correctional Services officials, over 130 kids live with their mothers in Musanze prison. They ended up into prison due to two circumstances. Female prisoners who either get sentenced while pregnant or when their children are under three years. For this reason, they have rights to live with their mothers to benefit from breastfeeding them and the maternal care which are of paramount importance for the harmonious development of the child.
At the event, mothers living with their children in Musanze prison expressed joy saying that while their children are in prison, the government still recognizes their rights.
They said it was nice for kids to get more food stuffs compared to what they used to get from prison.
“Today is a special day as officials recognize our kids and brought to them food and drinks. Sometimes our kids fail to eat food they are served and it has been long without them eating the food they are given now. I believe our kids will be happy.” One of them said.
RCS’s Deputy Commissioner General, Ms. Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza said that children living in prisons have rights as any other children and requested all partners to help them enjoy those rights.
“These kids are not able to join us where we live as they are in prison with their mothers, that’s why we have to come here to help them enjoy their rights. They may be parliamentarians, teachers or any other important persons, we can’t ignore them.” she said
Kids who are living with their mothers are those who are still below three years and when they are three years, they are sent taken out of the prison to be taken care for by other family members while their mothers are completing their sentence.