Analyzing the influence of information and communication technology on the scourge of human trafficking in rwanda

ASSJ, Vol.3: 01 (2018) 1095 – 1102
Contents lists available at: www.innovativejournal.in
ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE JOURNAL
Journal homepage: http://innovativejournal.in/assj/index.php/assj ISSN: 2456-2394
1095 Academy of Social Science Journal, vol. 03 Issue 01, January, 2018
Research Article
Analyzing the influence of Information and communication Technology on the scourge
of human trafficking in Rwanda
Gacinya John
MSc-Criminology-PhD Research Scholar -Mount Kenya University
ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT
Corresponding Author:
Gacinya John
Keywords : Human trafficking,
Information communication
technology, Globalization
Rwanda‟s Information Communication and Technology (ICT) sector is among the
fastest growing ICT sectors in Africa. Mobile phone penetration had risen to 65%
and internet spread was above 20% in 2013. ICT is double edged and has had
positive and negative effects to the Rwandan society. It is hoped that Information
communication technology is likely to reduce unemployment and transform the
country into a competitive, knowledge based economy. On other hand, ICT has
facilitated human trafficking and trafficked people have had physical and
psychological suffering due to labor and sexual exploitation. Human trafficking is
prevalent despite government effort to eradicate it. The main objective of the
study is to analyze the role of Information Communication technology in
facilitating human trafficking in Rwanda. Qualitative research design and
documentary technique were applied for the study. The findings of study indicate
that human trafficking crimes are clandestine in nature.ICT in terms of internet
and mobile phones is used in the processes of human trafficking that include;
recruitment,transfer,transportation and exploitation of the victim. Online sex
trafficking and recruitment of human trafficking victims is done using social
media and mobile phones. Law enforcement officials have made significant
progress in mobile phone tracking during victim rescue, there has been installation
of the cybercrime facility to detect cyber-crimes, also Interpol communication
system-the I-24/7 has been installed at most parts of the Rwandan border of entry
to track and rescue trafficked individuals. There has been provision of mobile
phones to the rural women to relay information related to human trafficking to the
police. Other than that all subscribers of mobile cellular services are registered in
the country as well as legislation on punishment for applying ICT to commit
human trafficking crimes. Thus, recommendations are that; The Rwandan
population should endeavor to cooperate with the government bodies to provide
information for those ICT to traffic people; the public should be educated on the
good and bad use of information communication technology. There should as well
be inter sectoral linages in the fight against human trafficking facilitated by ICT.
Regional and international cooperation related to the combat of human trafficking
related to ICT is key, and international law against use of ICT to traffic people
should be in place.
©2018, ASSJ, All Right Reserved
1. Introduction
According to Isiaka et al (2015), Information communication
technology was developed by the United states depart of
defense in 1969.The first technological invention was the
telephone that was invented in the 19th
century and this
shortened time of communication. Radio and wireless
communication was the second technological invention. In the
current period information communication technology is
applied in the form of internet and this has facilitated
information flow in real time. It is in this respect that human
traffickers are using information communication technology to

Gacinya John/ Analyzing the influence of Information and communication Technology on the scourge of human
trafficking in Rwanda
1096 Academy of Social Science Journal, , vol. 03 Issue 01, January, 2018
speed their operations with least difficulty as internet is
borderless, (Rodas, 2014).
Globalization has facilitated the expansion of information and
communication technology and information is more available
and this has helped to transform peoples‟ life, especially for
those doing legal businesses, (UNGIFT, 2008).In the current
period the number of internet users has risen to 1.8 billion
worldwide and this is growth on internet by 400%, (Rachel,
2011). Financial proceeds from Internet pornography industry
alone generated 2.8 billion USD in 2006.
Information communication technology accesses information
to people by the use of a computer and internet application
services such as ;web sites, Search engines, Pornographic
spams, chat rooms, file transfer protocol, File swapping
programs and peer to peer networks. It is with these internet
application services that human trafficking can be carried out,
(Chawki &Wahab, 2004).
Different methods are used to commit the crime of human
trafficking. The offender and the victim can meet on the
facebook and express love and admiration to each other.
Location can be set for the meeting and then an air ticket sent
to the victim. The other method applied by traffickers to trap
the victim is to advertise that an employment waits for these in
need of the job, and then the unsuspecting victim accepts job
offers and travels to locations suggested by traffickers. The
end of it all is that the trafficker begins to deny any kind of
communication to the victim, (Herbert, 2013).Sex trafficking
in most cases occurs where facebook friends (predator and
victim) get used to one another until confidence builds,
(Oduor, 2017).
Combat Human trafficking crime has had challenges as
information communication technology does not respect
national borders as is the case with the law enforcement
agencies. Traffickers take advantage of communication
infrastructure provided by the governments to recruit victims
of human trafficking, yet many governments do not have the
means to detect and prevent trafficking of human beings by
use of Information communication technology, (Linda &
Baker, 2013).
Human trafficking crime combat has had another challenge of
lack of cooperation among anti-trafficking organizations lack.
Organizations compete rather than complement each other in
the exercise of human trafficking combat.Anti trafficking
organizations have competing values, missions, and funding.
Organizations are reluctant to share information and there is
often mistrust, privacy, public safety and gaps in terms of
technology, (Latonero, 2011).
Information communication technology has been used for
sexual and labor exploitation. US based corporations have
obtained cheap labor for exploitation from India and the
Philippines. Western Europe and North America have had
regular supply of sex workers from the developing world by
use of information communication
technology.Generally,worldwide expansion and use of
internet has speeded up sexual exploitation greatly, (Rahman,
2011).
Rare opportunities to human trafficking combat rests with
organizations such as; the Interpol, the G8 Sub-group on
High-Tech Crime, the Virtual Global Taskforce, Internet
Watch Foundation (IWF) and The Virtual Global Taskforce
(VGT).The afore mentioned organizations collaborate with the
international law enforcement agencies to use technology and
share intelligence, information and resources in the fight
against human trafficking. Virtual Global Task force
collaborates with law enforcement agencies to protect children
from exploitation. They identify location, and help children at
risk. Virtual Global Technology creates websites with images
of child abuse and this is done to attract traffickers to the
website. It is with these websites law enforcement officials
monitor to establish wrong elements wanting to abuse
children, (Rachel, 2011).
There is also the G8 Sub-group on High-Tech Crime which
comprise of; Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia,
the United States, and the United Kingdom. The group of
eight countries established the G8 “Sub-group” on High
Technology to Prevent, investigate, and prosecute cybercrimes
that involved computers, (Rachel, 2011).
There is also the Council of Europe‟s Convention on
Cybercrime which provides procedures and investigative tools
for law enforcement worldwide in order to prevent and combat
all types of internet crime, including trafficking in
persons,(Linda & Baker, 2013).
Private technology giants have also joined the fight against
human trafficking. Google, Palantir Technologies, Microsoft
Digital Crimes Unit, Microsoft Research, LexisNexis and
NGO Thorn have joined the fight against human trafficking
and do provide funds and technical knowhow in identifying
human traffickers,( Herbert ,2013).
Information communication technology has been used to
detect and apprehend traffickers by developing platforms that
can capture calls from the trafficking reporting hotlines of
various organizations and distributes those phone calls via text
or email among those organizations, (Latonero, 2011).
Further, human trafficking can be prevented by use of Short
Message Service (SMS) technologies to inform the public of
the possibility of human traffickers presence and their plans to
manipulate and recruit people. More so, mobile devices and
SMS technologies have enabled victims of human trafficking
to contact service providers for support. Again, Social media
platforms have also been used to raise awareness of human
trafficking globally, (The US state department, 2013).
In a similar manner, law enforcement officials have been able
to identify victims by use of facial recognition software and do
locate minors who are being exploited on line. Law
enforcement officials are also able to trace text messages from
phones and computers. The same applies to voice mails and

web browsing history to produce evidence for prosecution
purposes, (US state department, 2013).
Cybercrime is on the rise on the continent of Africa.
Computers and servers are not protected and crimes such as
human trafficking and financial fraud do take place. Fighting
human trafficking by use of technology requires a coordinated
effort. In East Africa a task force from different stakeholders
that include the governments, industry and civil society has
been formed in order to fight human trafficking and other
crimes that emanate from use of a computer. This implies that
legal, policy and regulation matters will be harmonized
(Quartie & Odoom, 2012).
Rwanda is vulnerable to human trafficking as conditions that
breed human trafficking are conducive. In the first case
Rwanda is a Country with the fastest broadband Internet speed
in Africa. There are about mobile money subscribers were 2.5
million in 2013, Mobile phone penetration is rapidly
increasing and is now estimated at 65%. Internet Penetration is
currently at 20% and it is envisaged to reach 95% in the next
five years, (Rwanda National youth policy, 2015). More than
50 per cent of the adult Rwandan population own and use
mobile phones for communication. Electronic media are
available and the public is encouraged to use ICT as a modern
technique to exercise their right of access to information.
Cyber cafés and Tele-centres are also available in different
districts of the country while an ICT bus travels to some
remote rural areas, which are not yet connected to internet, to
allow them to have access to modern tools of information and
communication, (Rwanda Human rights council 2010).
Coupled with the availability of Information communication
technology, the Rwandan population that has youths who are
unemployed and underemployed. There are about 7000
children living and working on the streets of Rwanda. Most
street children are boys and many have never been to school.
About 352,550 children aged between 5-17 years of age were
active in the labor force and over 83% were engaged in
agriculture alone and over 11% in domestic work by
2002.About 21 % of the Rwandan children have lost one or
both parents due to conflict past and HIV/AIDS pandemic.In
2010 about 101,000 children were house hold heads of 42 000
families, This leaves the youth potentially vulnerable to
human trafficking, (Rwanda strategic plan for child‟s rights,
2011).
There is also evidence of internal and cross-border trafficking
of girls and women, as well as cross-border movement of
children for commercial sexual exploitation. Human
trafficking in all its forms (Internal and international) is
present. Police statistics reveal 153 cases of human trafficking
registered between 2009 and 2013, with the majority of the
victims being young females below the age of 35.The number
of cases could be higher than the afore mentioned number but
the covert nature of human trafficking undermines
quantification,( Rwanda National youth policy 2015).
2. Problem statement
While the rapid use of digital technologies worldwide like
mobile phones, social networking sites and the Internet has
provided significant benefits to society, more new channels
and potential opportunities for exploitation have also
emerged. Increasingly, the business of trafficking in persons is
taking place online and over mobile phones. The positive side
is that the same technologies that are being used for trafficking
in persons can become a powerful tool to combat the same
threat. The key role that digital technologies play in human
trafficking still remains unclear, however, a closer
examination of the phenomenon is vital to identify and
respond to new threats and opportunities. Rwanda has the
fastest growing information communication technology sector
in Africa. About 50% of the adult population in Rwanda own
mobile telephones. Mobile phone penetration is thought to
have reached 65% in the current period and internet
penetration is at 20%. Electronic media are available in
Rwanda and the public is encouraged to use ICT as a modern
technique to exercise their right of access to information.
Rwandan government has campaigned against human
trafficking through public awareness, regional cooperation,
law enforcement, improved border security and legislation, but
cases of human trafficking seem to keep rising as more than
153 cases have been recorded since 2009 which number could
even be greater as of today. Use of ICT has become a major
platform on which trafficking in persons is practiced in
Rwanda. But the same technology can be used to combat the
menace .This is so urgent that president Paul Kagame calls for
regional cooperation in terms of sharing information and using
latest technologies in combating human trafficking( Rwanda
National police magazine 2016).From this background ,there
is every need for a study to be conducted on how ICT
enhances human trafficking and how it can be used to prevent
and combat the very threat in Rwanda.
3. Research Objective
The main objective of this study is to analyze the role of
Information Communication technology in facilitating human
trafficking in Rwanda. Specifically,
(1) To analyze the influence of technology in facilitating
human trafficking in Rwanda.
(2) To analyze the extent to which Rwanda has been able to
combat human trafficking using technology.
4. Literature review
Asiimwe, (2014) notes that Rwanda is a developing country
and lacks economic opportunities and as such people have to
look for these opportunities elsewhere. One of the means and
ways used is the internet and social media .The Internet and
social media, thus influence the unsuspecting people to go out
and rush for the supposed opportunities and in the process are
trafficked. In this sense the researcher concurs with the author,
access to social media and the internet have penetrated
Rwanda and this provides the platform for traffickers to
exploit victims easily.

Leva Pundina (2013) shares the view that information
communication technology has brought benefits and has
weaknesses in the current period. Law enforcement officials
are able to track human traffickers‟ cell phones and do
understand their criminal activities more and better. However,
information communication technology has also facilitated
criminals to create online platforms to recruit vulnerable
people they identify as targets. One difficulty obtaining is that
electronic information available is often fragmented and is
subject to privacy rules. In the case of Rwanda, Cyber-crime
detection is already in place to track human trafficking
suspects. However; Cyber-crime detection has not covered the
whole country.
United Nations global initiative to fight trafficking (2008)
Indicates that traffickers have used Information
communication technology to communicate with potential
victims via the internet and websites during recruitment
processes. Likewise information communication technology is
used to transfer funds obtained from human trafficking from
one country to the other by use of ICT in a way that looks
lawful. Other than recruitment of victims and transfer of
funds, ICT bears pornographic websites advertising women
for sexual exploitation. These women are forced to perform
live sex for sale and may not know that they appear on the
websites. In Rwanda criminals communicate with victims by
use of ICT.However, there has not been any evidence of live
pornographic material produced and distributed for sale.
Elliott & McCartan (2013) assert that there is a growing
concern that sex trafficking is facilitated by the internet and
online sex trafficking respects no national borders.I CT by use
of internet has given opportunities for human traffickers to
advertise victims they hold. Online networking sites such as
Craigslist, MySpace and Facebook are being used for
trafficking. In the case of Rwanda, traces of Facebook and
whatsapp have been found to transmit sex trafficking affairs.
Channing (2017) indicates that human traffickers have in
recent times improved their mode of operations. They have
expanded their recruitment, transportation, control and
exploitation of victims perfectly as a result of use of internet,
social media and have used deceptive online advertisements to
recruit individuals for both sex and labor trafficking. In line
with the author, Rwanda faces a similar situation of online
recruitment supported by rapid spread of the internet in the
country.
Chibba (2013) underscores the importance of protecting
women and children who are exploited via internet sex
trafficking. Internet sex trafficking involves human traffickers
who lure young girls and women into internet dens and forced
to have sex with men while operating computers and cameras.
In Philippines, women and girls come into the den after job
opportunities are promised. They are forced to have sex and
pictures produced are for sale. Rwanda organic law N°
01/2012/OL of 02/05/2012 strongly prohibits criminals who
distribute any pornographic material and currently no cases of
pornographic pictures produced for sale to the public.
Latonero (2011) states that ICT is the greatest facilitator of
commercial sex trade in all countries. In the case of the United
States of America Google search has identified more than
5000 websites that facilitate sex trafficking and sex tourism. In
the case of labor trafficking, victims are mostly recruited the
developing world and this mostly done by word of mouth. The
same case for Rwanda, ICT has become a meeting point for
traffickers and victims to carryout transactions for sex and
labor trafficking.
Kunze (2010) observes that there are no limitations to the
operations of human traffickers because no international law
that exists to prohibit trafficking via ICT.All countries have
domestic law which is restricted to the borders. Traffickers
can carry on human trafficking operations without crossing the
borders because of ICT.This is again because information
communication technology makes it possible for traffickers to
recruit, advertise and even sell victims as they share
information by means of information communication
technology. Borders have no limitations to the flow of
information required by criminals. They are able to commit
cases of human trafficking away from their location. Besides,
traffickers can use information communication to arrange for
sex tours. ICT applications such as chat rooms, message
boards, peer to peer file sharing servers, news groups, and
websites are used by criminals to obtain information about
sexual tourism destinations. In Rwanda, human traffickers use
mobile phones and social media to make contacts to the
victims. Laws are also restricted to the borders. However;
interstate cooperation which exists among East African
member countries has helped to mitigate trans boundary cases.
According to Kate (2004), finds that Europe is mostly the final
destination of many trafficked women for sexual purposes
around the world. Most of the trafficked women are mostly
used in brothels, bars, nightclubs, cafés, the streets and
massage parlours, saunas, escort agencies, hotels and even
private homes. In the Netherlands, pimps use Internet to
contact young women for sexual exploitation. In the Rwanda
situation ICT facilitates sex trafficking among the girls and
destinations are mostly regional countries.
Mendel & Sharapov (2014) are of the view that the Internet
and online networks have facilitated human trafficking in the
recent years. Internet has enabled traffickers to operate with
increased ease and efficiency. Social networking, online
classifieds and dating websites are used to recruit and
advertise sex trafficking and labor. The researcher concurs
with the author, however no websites that advertise labor and
sex trafficking.
Kabance (2014) advances that International trafficking
networks have thrived due to technological advancements in
the age of globalization. Media has been instrumental in the
rapid spread of information transnationally. Trafficking
networks have also used cell phones and the Internet to carry
on international operations to recruit and transport human
beings for sexual exploitation. However, Kabance,(2014) also
argues that ICT is capable of fighting against human

trafficking. Governments, organizations and law enforcement
use ICT to detect, track, and shut down criminals operations.
Help hotlines have been used to assist victims in rescue
operations. This kind of situation applies to Rwanda where
specific mobile phone numbers are widely distributed in all
police stations being coordinated by “Isange one stop center”.
Latonero, (2012) finds that anti-Trafficking digital
communication technology is being used in the fight against
human trafficking and the public is concerned and taking part
in online anti-trafficking interventions. The public
involvement in making online petitions against human
trafficking. Crowd sourcing, Facebook and twitter have
informed the public of the presence of traffickers. As an
example, Digital activists against human trafficking like
change.org which petitioned craigslist to shut down the
websites known as „adult services‟ in 2010. Latonero, (2012)
also states that Facebook and twitter are used to fight human
trafficking. NGOS that fight human trafficking have used
Facebook to reach a very large audience. For example an
NGO, ECPAT UK has more than 29,000 members and with
Facebook facility they inform the public more about human
trafficking. Twitter serves as a hub for human trafficking
activism. With Twitter individuals and organizations share
information about human trafficking, raises the awareness,
mobilizes support and puts pressure on individuals and
organizations fight against human trafficking.
Quarshie, (2014) argues that ICT technology has been used to
commit human trafficking crimes such as child pornography.
Africa needs to take advantage of modern technology by use
of CCTV technology, tracking technology, social media and
mobile phone to combat human trafficking.Quarshie
commends that African leaders need to embrace the use of
technology to meet future demands in investigations and
prosecution. In the case of Rwanda, distributing mobile
phones to the civilian population by the national Police of
Rwanda is meant to provide information regarding human
trafficking that can be used in investigation and prosecution of
human trafficking cases.
Longe et al, (2009) point out that information communication
technology has widely spread in Africa and has at the same
time influenced human trafficking in the process. Child
trafficking, prostitution and pornography are on the
rise.Webiste sexual content has remained of interest to the
youth and scholars have found out there is a positive
relationship between website sexual content such as
pornography and sexual beliefs, attitudes and behavior in
Nigeria.Longel et al (2009), continuous to state that Nigeria
has used web filtering programs to remove sex related material
from the internet. Child Trafficking prevails in Africa and
children are trafficked to the western world and have ended up
on the streets, brothels and massage parlors. Internet and
mobile phones have also facilitated prostitution in the sub
Saharan Africa .Tourists who seek travel locations are
misdirected into webs that advertise sex tours offering travel
incentives such as pornography and escorts mail order brides.
The majority of the Rwandan Youth have access to webs that
advertise sex related issues and these drive them to develop
behavior towards sex.Such kind of sex behavior have led to
sex trafficking in Rwanda. Cyber-crime center take care by
tracking for criminals involved in human trafficking.
5. Methodology and Material
In this study documentary research was applied. Documentary
research method refers to the analysis of documents that
contain data about the phenomenon under study. Previous
studies were used to collect data and there was much reliance
on description and interpretation of data rather than collecting
raw data in accordance with Glenn, (2009). The documentary
research method was used in investigating and categorizing
physical sources, most commonly written and non-written
documents, whether in the private or public domain as stated
by Harelimana, (2015). The data inclusion criteria depended
on; authenticity, credibility, representativeness and meaning
attached to evidence, (Ahmed, 2010).Most of the obtained
data was from; books, brochures and minutes of meetings,
electronic journals, press releases, diaries, background papers,
event programs, letters and memoranda, newspaper articles,
press release, program proposals, radio and television
program, institutional reports and public records.
6. Results and Discussion
According to position paper for the Economic and Social
Council, (2014) Rwanda is a developing country and
vulnerable to human trafficking owing to her location in a
conflict zone and the political past. Rwanda hopes to eliminate
transnational organized crimes that include human trafficking
by use of technology. Rwanda has vulnerable people of
different categories; thus there are refugees from other
countries such as DR Congo, Burundi and returnees from
Tanzania. Over 95,000 refugees came from Burundi and there
are about six refugee camps of refugees from DR Congo.
These are vulnerable people enough to be trafficked. The rapid
increase in the use of ICT has hasted human trafficking as the
number of vulnerable refugees keeps rising.
The Council working Group on children online protection in
Rwanda, (2016) indicates that, since 2000, the Government of
Rwanda implemented National Information Communication
Infrastructure (NICI) programs that helped to distribute more
computers to young students. The increase of the mobile
devices and smart devices also triggered the use of ICT in the
country. Equally, the tele-centers that have been constructed in
the country played a big role in Internet usage. These
technologies and ICT penetration have introduced new types
of threats such as online sex trafficking. The internet and
mobile phones have spread to low segments of the Rwandan
community that includes the poor and the young.
Opportunities of exploiting the youth for traffickers exist in an
environment of vulnerability, access to information and good
communication. Online transactions include advertising and
recruiting .This has made it so difficult for the security system
to combat human trafficking.

In 2014 the parliament and other high institutions in Rwanda
found out that girls were the ones involved in human
trafficking online. Cases are there where young girls are
enticed to go outside the country to seek opportunities that
exist there and this is mostly done by use of mobile phones. It
is unfortunate the young girls accept traffickers blindly due to
ignorance about sex traffickers, (New times reporter, 2015).
Such cases have increased steadily as they are facilitated by
quick access to internet and possession of more mobile phones
than they had in 2014.This meets an increased number of
unemployed girl population who are desperate for jobs to meet
their life desires.
To protect the child online, Rwanda ICT regulator, (RURA)
took the initiative to ensure that all subscribers of mobile
cellular services are registered in the Republic of Rwanda.
This exercise was intended to address several issues, related to
security and social problems. Rwanda ICT regulator further
developed guidelines governing the Operations of Internet
cafés in Rwanda that protect children from harmful Internet
content. It sounds like some online services are not protected
fully to counteract some online transactions between
traffickers and potential victims. This has contributed to a
steady increase in human trafficking cases facilitated by ICT
despite government efforts to combat the vice.
The Government of Rwanda has enacted the Organic Law N°
01/2012/OL of 02/05/2012 instituting the penal code that
penalizes any person, who displays, sells, rents, disseminates
or distributes pornographic pictures, objects, movies, photos,
slides and other pornographic materials involving children.
Having such strong legislation yet human trafficking cases are
consistently on a rise indicates that there is a big gap between
strong laws and effective implementation as of today.
According to the Rwanda prosecutor general (2017), Human
trafficking is a new crime, and is occurring in Rwanda. The
Rwanda prosecution department handled 10 cases in
2012/2013, 51cases in 2013/2014, 41 cases in 2014/2015 and
32 cases in 2015/2016 of human trafficking where 10 cases of
human trafficking had no supporting evidence. Victims of
human trafficking are recruited through social media.
Rwanda National Police (2015) observes that Interpol
communication system I-24/7 has been used to track and
rescue trafficked individuals. This has been done through
information exchange. Interpol communication system in
Kigali was able to rescue two Rwandans including a girl
student who had been trafficked to Zambia. A Ugandan girl
was also intercepted at Kigali international airport as she was
being trafficked to Asia. All the afore mentioned operations
were enabled by use of I-24/7 technology. Law enforce
officers are now able to track mobile phone print outs to locate
trafficked girls through Interpol operations. As an example a
Rwandan girl from Kimisagara suburb of Kigali city was
rescued from Kampala where she had been trafficked. It came
to be understood that the trafficked girl had been enticed to go
with a friend to Kampala who promised her to obtain a job in a
supermarket. The trafficked girl was rescued after her
telephone and the telephone of the trafficker were tracked by
Interpol, (Kwizera, 2015).
This suggests that if well utilized by increasing cybercrime
centers that track phone messages of suspects of human
trafficking, ICT can be a strong tool in combating human
trafficking in Rwanda. This will meet the recent development
in Rwanda National police is the installation of the cybercrime
facility to detect crimes that use information communication
technology. This will enable Rwanda national police to
combat internet and mobile phone based crimes, (Rwanda
National Police magazine, 2016).In addition to this remedy,
there is a need to increase data protection so as to deny
traffickers quick access to ICT services.
Sandys, (2005) hints that United Nations entities have worked
to ensure access to and use of ICT by rural women in many
different countries, Rwanda inclusive. The UNDP/Japan
Women in Development Fund has supported programs in
Rwanda to increase rural women‟s access to ICT, but internet
has speeded the exploitation of women and girls by spreading
sexual manners in real time. In a similar move Rwanda
National police has provided mobile phones to the rural people
in order to contact the police in case of security bleach
including human trafficking, Rwanda National police
Magazine, (2014). This has empowered the women
development in the country however, not giving prior training
to the users has facilitated a rapid misuse of the would be
opportunity (ICT). This lack of sufficient knowledge in ICT
usage has provided a platform to traffickers.
Conclusion
Information communication technology is on the increase in
Rwanda. Internet is available in most government institutions
and has even penetrated into the rural areas and access to
information in real time is possible. Mobile phone penetration
is significantly so high, where 50 % of the population of
Rwanda own mobile phones. Electronic media is available and
the public is encouraged to use information communication
technology and this has proved to provide a platform for
traffickers to exploit the potential victims who are already
vulnerable due to other circumstances including
unemployment, influx of refugees and poverty. Law
enforcement officials are handicapped in the face of
information and communication technology that operates un
detected.
On the other hand there is evidence that human trafficking has
been stamped out by use of technology. In Rwanda, traffickers
are tracked until they are apprehended. Cyber technology is
being used to track human traffickers and the I-24/7 Interpol
communication is used to share information on suspected
human traffickers and rescuing the victims through the
information exchange mechanism. This has played a key role
in combating human trafficking in Rwanda.
It is imperative to note that there has been a remarkable
progress in combating human trafficking in Rwanda using ICT

although there is still a gap between good policies in place and
their implementation.
Recommendations
The Rwandan population should endeavor to cooperate with
the government bodies most especially the National police by
providing information in time concerning human trafficking
due to ICT and any suspects in their communities.
Increasing awareness on the proper usage of information and
communication technologies especially the social media can
of a great help in the prevention of human trafficking. This
can be done through community policing and mass
communication to empower a good number of Rwandans
about the role of ICT in human trafficking.
There should be an enhanced multi-disciplinary approach
where the ministry of ICT, National police of Rwanda,
bilateral organizations and Telecommunication companies can
work together to prevent and combat human trafficking in
Rwanda caused by ICT.
Regional and international cooperation related to the combat
of human trafficking related to ICT should be strengthened
and international law to address human trafficking must also
apply on the use of information and communication
technology that facilitates human trafficking crimes. Therefore
harmonization of ICT activities and shading off matters of
privacy, mistrust and reduction of gaps amongst states will
enhance human trafficking combat operations.
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