The Minister of Youth and Arts, Dr Jean Nepo Abdallah Utumatwishima, said consultations with young people had led the ministry to focus on teaching boys and men to respect women after its earlier advice on girls’ clothing was poorly received.
He made the remarks during Youth Meet the President, an engagement between President Paul Kagame and more than 10,000 young people from across Rwanda.
Utumatwishima told President Kagame that the ministry had advised young women attending concerts and other social events to dress in a way it considered appropriate. The suggestion accompanied a warning that intoxication could impair judgement and leave people vulnerable to exploitation.
He acknowledged that young people had not welcomed the advice and said listening to their views had changed the ministry’s approach.
“We opened the door to dialogue, and many spoke frankly while we listened. The lesson we drew was that we must teach boys and men to respect a girl’s body,” he said.
Debate over clothing intensified after reports that some women and girls were denied entry to Diamond Platnumz’s concert in Kigali because their outfits were considered too revealing.
The incident prompted criticism from public figures and social media users who viewed clothing restrictions as an infringement on women’s rights. It also revived debate over attempts to link women’s clothing with sexual violence.
Utumatwishima said the clothing issue was part of wider discussions between the government and young people about challenges affecting their health and wellbeing.
He cited an increase in illnesses linked to alcohol consumption, including cases involving deaths and loss of sight. Alcohol-related crime and violence, parental neglect, children living on the streets and young people participating in illegal mining were also among the concerns raised.
The minister said young people had acknowledged the harm caused by alcohol and initiated the Sober Generation campaign. They had also invited government officials to join community work, sporting activities and other youth-led initiatives.
He urged young people to look out for one another, intervene when their peers begin engaging in harmful behaviour and report the sale of banned alcoholic products and places where drugs are consumed.
Young people also identified difficulty finding work, the rising cost of living, family conflict and pressure or misuse of social media among the main causes of stress.
They requested modernised youth centres, more sports facilities in schools and local communities, and informal spaces where they could meet and discuss their concerns. Utumatwishima said mental-health support would also be strengthened in schools, communities and health facilities.
He said more than 95 per cent of young Rwandans remained sober, with many working, serving in security institutions or participating in volunteer programmes. He added that those already affected by alcohol and drug abuse should not be abandoned.
Elie GATETE
RADIOTV10