When Community Role Models Turn Into Predators: The Hurdles Josepha Went Through
Every child has the right to be registered in the civil registrar and cared for by both parents. Whether parents are married or not, it is their ultimate responsibility to ensure their child’s upbringing and basic needs are catered for. Some parents fail to pay their due responsibilities when it comes to their kids.
The COVID-19 pandemic created a multi-dimensional global and national emergency, undoubtedly exposed women and girls to many forms of abuse, and exacerbated gender-based violence and poverty, particularly in rural regions.
Bahati Josepha’s parents during the lockdown period in 2021 asked their neighbor, KAREKEZI Joachim, a teacher, to help their daughter stay on top of her schoolwork while their area was under total lockdown. Unfortunately the teacher violated her, someone they considered a role model in their community.
“When I discovered I was pregnant, my life fell into shambles. My life had just ended right there. The father was the current teacher who was coaching me and when I told him about the pregnancy, he immediately denied responsibility. My family had a hard time accepting what happened to me. I was considered a shame in my community”
A baby girl named ISHIMWE CYEMEZO Noelle was born to BAHATI on December 24, 2021, but KAREKEZI Joachim rejected the kid and the parental duties. Being young and still living with her parents, Bahati failed to raise the kid alone.
Through 1022 toll-free line, Josepha’s mother contacted LAF requesting assistance for her child. Me De BONHEUR Jeanne d’Arc, a lawyer from LAF was assigned to BAHATI’s case. She assisted her in filing the matter before court. From the court’s ruling, a DNA test was requested to determine the biological link between ISHIMWE CYEMEZO Noelle and KAREKEZI Joachim. For a young female like Josepha, she had no means to pay herself the test and the Legal Aid Forum further assisted her to pay for the test.
On the 30/9/2022, after the DNA test results revealed that KAREKEZI Joachim is undoubtedly ISHIMWE CYEMEZO Noelle’s father, the court ordered him to register his daughter in the civil registrar and to help BAHATI Josepha raise the kid by paying alimony.
“I am back to school, Isn’t that amazing? When the court ordered Joachim to help me raise our child, a load of worries was released from my shoulder and my mother’s. I always wondered how I will raise a child let alone considering our family’s financial stability that was low, But now I am back in school and I leave my baby with my mother during the day. She is a healthy baby and growing so fast thanks to the support LAF has offered me”
