ABSTRACT
In 1994, during the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, an estimated 350,000 women and girls were systematically sexually assaulted. Thousands of children were born as a result of these sexual assaults. Despite their inherent connection to sexual violence, these ‘children of hate’, as they are sometimes called, have yet to be considered as a distinct group of war-affected youth whose rights have been violated as a result of their mother’s victimisation. Consequently, they have remained outside the scope of past transitional justice processes designed to remedy, restore, and reconcile individuals, families, and communities. This chapter focuses on the engagement and participation of a sample of youth born of conflict-related sexual violence in Rwanda. It explores the opportunities and challenges of youth advocacy and activism in post-genocide Rwanda. In particular, it highlights the marginalisation, stigma, and discrimination faced by the youth at multiple levels of society. It also addresses the ways in which the youth have attempted to counter their marginalisation and stigma through advocacy. Besides advancing knowledge on the perspectives of youth born of conflict-related sexual violence and their role in post-genocide reconciliation and policymaking, this chapter highlights the challenges and opportunities of youth engagement in post-genocide Rwanda.
