Guidance

Rwanda: information for victims of rape and sexual assault

Published 18 November 2022

This information is provided to help British nationals overseas make informed decisions about whether and how to:

• seek medical advice and attention
• report to local police
• engage with foreign legal authorities following a rape or other form of sexual assault overseas.

If you’ve been sexually assaulted it’s important to remember that it was not your fault. Rape and Sexual assault is always wrong – no matter who commits it or where it happens. It is traumatic and it can affect you both physically and emotionally. Do not be afraid to get help.

For information on support available in the UK, see Rape and Sexual Assault: Returning to the UK.

1. First steps

It is your choice about what you do next, but this information may help you in coming to a decision. The most important thing is to make sure that you are as safe as you can be.

You can:

• Contact the Police for emergencies on 112 or the gender based violence helpline on 3512.
• Contact your tour operator if you are travelling with one and ask them for assistance.
• Contact the British High Commission in Kigali on +250 252 556 000 or +44 020 7136 6857. British High Commission staff will be empathetic, and non-judgmental, and can provide information on local police and medical procedures. Anything you tell them will be treated in the strictest confidence. They can contact your family or friends for you if you wish.

2. If you want to report the incident to the police in Rwanda

You will need to report the crime for the police to investigate the case. If you would prefer, friends and family can also do this on your behalf.

If you have a tour operator, they should be able to arrange for someone to support you. If you are in Kigali, the British High Commission will try to send a consular officer to support you, where timing and location allow. You will always be able to speak to trained consular staff on the telephone 24/7.

If you approach the police directly, you can also ask them to inform the British High Commission in Kigali on +250 252 556 000 and they can offer you consular support.

If you choose to report the crime, try to do so as soon as possible, so forensic evidence can be retained. Washing yourself or your clothes may make it difficult for the police to obtain forensic evidence. If you change your clothes, think about taking those you were wearing to the police. You may wish to preserve evidence by retaining items such as condoms, toothbrushes, or texts.

You should:

• Tell the police if you think you have been drugged.
• Insist you get a police report, and request a translation in English if applicable.

You can also report your attack to Isange one stop centre by dialling 3029 to get support in terms of medical attention and psychological help. Isange one stop centre services are free of charge. You can give your contact information or your passport number for identification. If you are not resident in Rwanda, you may create an IECMS account Rwanda Integrated Electronic Case Management System and follow your case from prosecution or directly communicate with the prosecutor who is handling your case.

3. What to expect if you report the incident to the police:

Every police station in Rwanda will have both male and female officers. If you would prefer to make your statement to a female officer, then you can ask to do so.

You can also request to speak to an English-speaking police officer. English is one of the official languages of Rwanda and so each station will have an English-speaking officer. Sign language interpreters are also available on request at most police stations. Juvenile cases are handled slightly differently, with increased protection to prevent confrontation from alleged perpetrator.

Once you have filed a report, investigations are led by Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) under the supervision of the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA). There is no need for judges to be involved, though they can do so if they wish when the case is in court.

The RIB may collect DNA evidence and may ask to examine your clothes. In addition, they will ask for your testimony and to state any witnesses. It is likely they will ask you to describe:

• the perpetrator

• the crime scene

• the details of the assault.

You will need to surrender your passport whilst the investigation is ongoing. You might also be asked to report to the police station weekly, to check in on your wellbeing and the development of the case.

Consider appointing a local lawyer to accompany you when you provide your statement to the police. See our list of English speaking lawyers in Rwanda who may help you.

4. If you do not want to report the incident to the police in Rwanda

The British High Commission will still be able to help you. This includes helping you to contact your insurance company, your family, making arrangements to travel back to the UK and/or provide you with information on local support in the UK.

They can provide you with lists of English speaking lawyers and English speaking translators and interpreters in Rwanda.

If you are travelling with a tour guide, you can also report the incident and ask them for assistance. If you wish, the tour operator may accompany you to the local hospital. If you wish, and depending on location and timing, a member of consular staff may be able to accompany you.

It is your choice on whether to report the crime. If you don’t report it, it is unlikely your case will be investigated

You do not need to report the crime to police in order to receive medical attention.

5. If you want to report the incident to the police in the UK

The support available to you, and your access to justice, may vary according to where you report the crime. In Rwanda you need to report the crime before you leave the country, if you want it to be investigated and police to obtain important evidence.

If you are staying in Rwanda, report it to the police station closest to where the crime took place. If you are a British national and you need help to report the crime, you can contact the British High Commission in Rwanda on +250 252 556 000.

If you do not report the crime in Rwanda and you return to the UK, you can still report the matter to your local UK police.

The UK police should send the information to police in Rwanda. However, it is for foreign police forces to decide whether to investigate a crime in their jurisdiction. It is unlikely the Rwandan police will take action as you are meant to report the crime before leaving the country.

You can report the crime to the UK police even if you are not seeking an investigation in Rwanda. The UK police can offer you access to victim support in the UK. They may still send some details of the crime to police in Rwanda. This might be necessary in order to protect vulnerable people, or to stop more crimes being committed

6. Reporting the crime in Rwanda - what happens next?

If you choose to report the crime to the authorities, you will need to make a statement in Rwanda and provide a description of the attacker(s).

The police may keep your belongings, such as clothes, or electronic equipment, if they need them for forensic examination. The items may be retained for the duration of the investigation to aid investigative efforts.

Rwanda Investigation Bureau may ask you to visit a state hospital for forensic testing where you will be seen by a specialist. These hospitals are available across Rwanda.

The Rwandan Police does not inform UK police but you may request that the police notify the British High Commission on +250 252 556 000 or +44 1908 51 6666

7. The medical examination – what to expect

All state hospitals in Rwanda treat victims of rape and sexual assault for free. As a principle, hospitals should not report the results of any examination to police without your consent.

Certified medical doctors and psychological doctors will perform your examination. Expect to be given a full medical, with questions about your family medical history, list of medications you are on, blood pressure etc as well as a physical examination. You can request for a female doctor, but there tend to be fewer females in the field of medicine than men.

It is possible that, if notified in advance, a consular officer from the British High Commission will be able to accompany you to the hospital. Local tour operators should also be able to do this.

8. Treatment

HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis medication is available at local government hospitals in Rwanda. For rape victims, this medication is given for free, as is hospital treatment. HIV PEP medication needs to be taken within 72 hours of the incident for it to be effective. The NHS may be able to commence or continue the 28 day treatment on return to the UK.

Emergency contraception needs to be taken within 72 hours of the incident for it to be effective. You will need to pay for emergency contraception in Rwanda. Check your travel insurance policy to see if it covers medical costs. Alternatively, you pay for your medication using cash, card or Mobile Money transfer.

If you have had medication administered overseas, you should keep the label or make a note of the name of the medication, so that you let your local health provider know when you return home.

9. Case investigations in Rwanda – what to expect

The Rwanda Investigation Bureau may take you to the scene of the crime, and they may ask you to identify the suspect to the best of your ability.

If the Rwanda investigation Bureau make an arrest, the suspect can be held in the police station for 5 days. After this, the case will be transferred to the prosecutor’s office, which has an additional 5 days to present the case to a judge for them to decide whether to release or detain the suspect for the period of one month. After a month, the suspect will be brought before the judge to extend his/her period for another 30 days if the case is still being investigated with no trial date set

You will need to go to the public prosecutor to make a statement, which can be done with your lawyer or alone.

You can leave Rwanda once the case has been filed, providing you haven’t yet been summoned as a witness for the case.

10. Court procedures – what to expect

In Rwanda, once an assault is committed, you should report to the nearest Rwanda Investigation Bureau station which shall process your case and send it to the National Public Prosecution Authority. The prosecution shall decide whether the case should be submitted to court. If so, it will be sent to court for adjudication.

In Rwanda, if a suspect is brought to trial, you don’t need to testify in court. Your testimony will be written during investigation or can be recorded through audio-visual format and testimonies are heard during court hearing. The court final judgement is taken within a month time from hearings.

In Rwanda, the charge of rape is an automatic prosecution, which means that charges cannot be dropped once made. The only instance where it might be possible to drop the charges is if you and the suspect mutually agree to it, in which case you will not be penalised.

As a principle, trials are in Kinyarwanda but you can request for yours to be held in one of the other official languages (French or English).

In Rwanda, you can also file for compensation under ‘civil damages’. This should be done no later than 5 years from when the crime was committed. The suspect will be informed on whether you intend to apply for civil damages and made aware of the case. There may be negotiations between you and the suspect. The Court will inform you of their decision within 30 days of filing for compensation. When the offender is found guilty, the courts will order him/her to pay compensation through refund of procedural and advocate fees.

The court may order you to refund court procedural and advocate fees over false accusations.

11. Hiring a lawyer

A privately hired lawyer will assess the evidence and advise you on the chances of getting a conviction. You can find a list of English-speaking lawyers based in Rwanda below:

• English speaking lawyers in Rwanda

• English speaking translators and interpreters in Rwanda

In Rwanda, you will be allowed to communicate with your family, lawyers, psychosocial support throughout the whole process.

12. Legal aid

In Rwanda, you do not need to pay for a lawyer to represent you as cases are put forward by the Public Prosecution. However, if you would like to subsequently file for civil damages, you will need to pay for legal representation. Discuss with your lawyer whether they will charge for services before your case goes to court.

Legal aid in Rwanda covers: legal information and education, advice, assistance, mediation and representation or subsidised services.

13. Sentencing

Sentences in Rwanda weigh towards punishment and rehabilitation as well as deterrence. Once the perpetrator is found guilty, he/ she would be guilty of both ‘crimes of morality’ and ‘crimes against the person’ and may be imprisoned, do community services or pay fines. However, if they are found not guilty, they are released from prison or detention centres immediately after the judgement is passed.

14. Compensation

The court in Rwanda may order the offender to pay compensation for any injuries or losses after they have been convicted. This might be the refund of procedural and advocate fees. However, there is no state-funded compensation scheme to cover physical or psychological injuries suffered as a result of a sexual or violent crime.

15. When you return home to the UK

You may want to let your GP or a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) know what has happened to you so that you can talk about the experience and seek further support and advice where you live

England	NHS Choices website, or search the internet for ‘NHS SARC’	Rape and sexual assault referral centres
Scotland	Archway SARC: phone 0141 211 8175	Archway Glasgow
Wales	New Pathways SARC: phone 01685 379 310	New Pathways - Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)	Ynys Saff Sexual Assault Referral Centre - Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Northern Ireland	Rowan SARC Northern Ireland: phone 0800 389 4424	The Rowan - Sexual Assault Referral Centre

If you believe you may be at risk of having contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI), you should ask your local health provider to test you. You should do this even if you have been tested in the country that the assault took place in.

16. Support organisations in Rwanda

It is your choice to let people know. If you are ready to talk about it, these organisations may be able to help you.

16.1 RWAMLEC

• Address: KK15 Ave, YYUSSA PLAZA Kimironko, 2nd Floor
• Telephone No : +250788315140, +250788381183
• Hours of contact and language of service: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Description of services offered: Advocacy, Prevention of GBV, Capacity building

16.2 HAGURUKA – RWANDA

• Address: Kimironko, KG 11 AV 95Telephone No: +250788300834
• Hours of Contact: Mon- Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Description of services offered: Legal Aid & Psychosocial Support, Capacity Development & Awareness Raising, Research and advocacy.

Disclaimer: This information has been prepared by HMG officials who are not legally or medically trained. It should therefore never be used as a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. It is intended to help British nationals overseas make their own informed decisions. Neither HMG nor any official of the Consulate accept liability for any loss or damage which you might suffer as a result of relying on the information supplied.

Medical information has been provided by The Havens Sexual Assault Referral Centres of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and was accurate at the time of production (02/02/2022).