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Session on the protection of minors and of persons in situations of vulnerability for the Central Africa Province-PAC (Bujumbura- Burundi, February 15-26, 2025)

Tuesday February 18, 2025
In developing safeguarding policy, we need to be familiar with the laws of the countries where we carry out our ministry. For this reason, the second day of our session was marked by the presentation of a legal expert in the field of the protection of minors in the Burundian context. In his talk, Maître NDAYISHIMIYE Jean Berchmans shared with us exhaustive information about the protection of children in the Burundian context. He also presented the legal and constitutional framework for child protection. We discovered that Burundi is concerned about the welfare of children at all levels, starting with family structures. All forms of abuse, violence and exploitation of minors are punishable by law.

Despite this arsenal of laws, child abuse persists. Hence the need for a workable and contextual policy for the province: protection, reporting mechanisms , and guidelines for the safety of everyone.

These elements are important for tackling the next stage of our session, which is to draw up a policy for the PAC province (Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo).

The day was enriched by the celebration of the Eucharist presided over by Father Lowrent Kamwaza. ‘As pastoral agents, We are called to be the Noahs of today, ready to be bridges through which the people of God find a safe environment in His Church’.

Safeguarding is our commitment.

By: Alex Manda, M.Afr., Jean de Dieu Meda, M.Afr., Anthony Nahabwe, M.Afr., Edmond Ouedraogo, M.Afr., Lowrent Kamwaza, M.Afr.

Session on the protection of minors and of persons in situations of vulnerability for the Central Africa Province-PAC (Bujumbura- Burundi, February 15-26, 2025)

Monday February 17, 2025

Today we have started the session on safeguarding for missionaries of Africa delegates from different sectors of the PAC province (Burundi, RDCongo, Rwanda). This session is organized by the General Council of the Society of Missionaries of Africa. It is being held at Mount Sion Center in Bujumbura and brings together 14 confreres. This is a follow-up working session on the protection of minors following the training session held in Kigali in June 2024.

The session is being led by the Coordinator for the integrity in Ministry, Fr. Lowrent KAMWAZA, who is accompanied by Fr. Stephane JOULAIN who is also Provincial Coordinator of the EAP province. On behalf of the Provincial of the PAC, Father Arsène KAPYA, the assistant Father Bernard GACHURU, addressed a word of welcome to the participants.

The objectives of this session are:

1. To share the various experiences of safeguarding from the sectors.
2. Ongoing formation for safeguarding delegates as clearly stated in the policy of the Society.
3. Development of the safeguarding policy for the Central Africa Province-PAC.

This first day began with a word of encouragement from the Assistant General, Father Pawel HULECKI, in charge of the Ministry of Safeguarding. On behalf of the Superior General and his Council, he urged us to participate actively and attentively in this important session.

Fr. Lowrent Kamwaza reminded us of the recommendations of the Kigali session, and spoke to us about the objectives of this session.

The second speaker, Ms. Francisca MUJAWASE (Child protection expert in Rwanda), presented us with the legal framework on the protection of minors in Rwanda. Starting from the context, she presented to us the country’s laws concerning the protection of children and vulnerable persons – (The National Legal Framework on Child Rights and Protection)

The rest of the this first day, was dedicated to rich sharing and listening to each other’s experiences from respective places of missions following the Kigali session.

In short, all this was nourished by the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr. Bernard GACHURU- “Unlike Cain, let us be attentive guardians of our brothers and sisters, especially those who are in vulnerable situations” insisted in his homily during the mass.

Safeguarding is our commitment

By: Alex Manda, M.Afr., Jean de Dieu Meda, M.Afr., Anthony Nahabwe, M.Afr., Edmond Ouedraogo, M.Afr., Lowrent Kamwaza, M.Afr.