When I read this article, I could understand why street children choose to be child soldiers. In this article, the author explains the reality of the Gkikondo Transit Center where the street children are gathered. Rwanda established this center as a part of a “rehabilitation process”, but actually, it is an unofficial detention facility, and the street children who were detained in the center have to live in harsh conditions as well as being abused. According to the author, there was not enough food and water, the children have to share mattresses with three or four others, and it was the cause of rashes and skin infection. Besides, the children do not allow to chat with each other, and they are beaten by a police officer if they ignore the order. In contrast to this fact, Kigali is known as one of the cleanest and safest cities in Africa. Rwanda pretends to save the street children, and send them to the center to make the city look better. For the abolition of this center, the Committee continues to point out is that Rwanda is in violation of this convention and not complying with its obligations under international human rights. They believe that it is a powerful method. Rwanda is known as a country that many child soldiers were used in the conflict. People say that one of the causes is street children. At that time when Rwanda established the center, it would be assessed as a part of reconstruction by the world, but the reality is different. This article shows me that the country which is right after the war and the international society is going in the right direction while pretending to go in the wrong direction.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/01/27/interview-rwandas-street-children-locked-abused
Nanami Kanda
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