The Rwandan genocide continues to affect victims and survivors – including the children born of rape committed during the genocide – physically, mentally, socially and economically. Such children often experience long-term trauma that prevents them from fully enjoying their human rights because they have been deprived of the love, compassion, care, social acceptance and educational opportunities necessary for their development into stable, productive and fulfilled adults.

The Subcommittee believes that providing meaningful assistance to children born of rape committed during the Rwandan genocide should be an important component of Rwanda’s efforts to rebuild its society and institutions. Taking additional steps to provide appropriate mental health care and improve equality of access to secondary and post‑secondary education, as well as vocational training for this vulnerable group, is part of the Rwandan government’s responsibility to respect, protect and fulfill the human rights of all people under its jurisdiction. The Subcommittee is convinced that the Rwandan diaspora has an important role to play in supporting these efforts, both in Canada and in Rwanda.

Based on the evidence it heard, the Subcommittee puts forward the following recommendations to the Government of Canada:

Recommendation 1

That the Government of Canada encourage the Government of Rwanda to undertake a review of its position with regard to children born of rape committed during the genocide, in order to permit these young people to benefit from initiatives specifically aimed at assisting genocide survivors.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada review its position on bilateral development assistance programming in Rwanda and, in particular, consider the possibility of providing assistance to Rwandan grassroots, non-government organizations that provide psychological, social and educational support to children born of rape committed during the genocide.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada consider ways to encourage and support the Rwandan diaspora in Canada to develop initiatives aimed at providing psychological, social and educational support to survivors of the Rwandan genocide, including in particular children born of rape committed during the genocide, whether they now reside in Canada or in Rwanda.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada consider developing a long term strategic response plan to assist and support victims of sexual violence and genocidal rape and the children born of these acts in the aftermath of sexual violence in crisis or conflict areas around the world.