This study investigates how sexual corruption is perpetrated, how it impacts victims, and how institutions respond to it within the higher education sector. Sexual corruption represents a gendered form of corruption, with female students especially vulnerable due to existing power asymmetries and socio-cultural norms. However, other groups - such as male students and members of the LGBTQI+ community - are also at risk and may face unique barriers to reporting abuse, including fear of stigma or retaliation. While all study participants in this research were women, it is likely that the scope of sexual corruption in Rwandan universities is broader. This study explores the experiences of students in Rwandan universities and highlights how sexual corruption affects victims. The analysis is based on anonymized interviews conducted with victims, witnesses, and institutional actors. By examining these stories, the study reveals the devastating impact of sexual corruption on students, the challenges they encounter in reporting abuses, and the absence of effective institutional mechanisms to address them.
Centre de Ressources sur la Santé et L'Éducation