The Minister of Youth, Dr. Abdallah Utumatwishima pointed out that encouraging the youth to engage in various government and individual development initiatives is one of the ways that can make a large number of young people avoid a life of crime and contribute to the transformation of the country.
The Minister made the remarks while speaking to Police officers, who are attending a workshop on civic education and professional conduct at the Rwanda National Police (RNP) General Headquarters at Kacyiru.
Over 100 officers, including District Police Commanders, directors, commanders of specialized units, are attending a five-day workshop.
Minister Utumatwishima told Police officers that their role produces tangible results in encouraging the young people to refrain from lawlessness.
“The youth people make up the majority of the population and they include the educated, the uneducated, the employed and the unemployed. In order to know their problems, you need to gather information that includes knowing who they are, their living status, what they do on a daily basis and orient them on how they can change their lives,” Minister Utumatwishima told the Police commanders.
He added that the youth are often involved in crimes including prostitution, theft and drug use and that the Police working with local authorities can prevent and fight such crimes by supporting and encouraging them, which shapes their positive attitudes.
This, he said, should go hand-in-hand with encouraging parents to take their children to school, because when a child drops out of school, they tend to engage in other bad habits; wander in the streets and communities where they engage in criminal activities.
He asked them to work in unison with other institutions in awareness campaigns and to discuss the youth concerns, and what drives them into crimes, and utilize the youth as volunteers in fighting and preventing crimes. (End)