A coalition of non-governmental organisations, Women’s Aid Collective, WACOL and Tamar Sarc, has cried out over increasing cases of rape in Enugu State.
According to them, girls and children between 05 to 10 years were being abused sexually.
Executive Director, WACOL, Dr. Mrs. Joy Ezeilo, who led some members of TAMAR SARC, National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ and some section of the media to a rally at the Enugu State House of Assembly, as part of the ceremony marking the UN day to eliminate violence against women and girls, disclosed that between March last year and now, over 400 cases of sexual abuse against women and girls had been reported.
Ezilo, who lauded the partnership between the organization and the Enugu State Police Command, said it received reports of over 200 rape cases within the last one year, adding that it was providing free legal services for the victims.
She described rape as endemic, noting that “we are out today to demand an end to this impunity. The stage of denials is over; we are now at the level of reality. It is a common knowledge that children between the ages of 1-10 years are now very vulnerable.
“So, today, we are leading in this campaign to call on mothers to protect their children; we are calling on the men to join in the war against this madness; we are calling on states to come up with laws that would be used to defeat this social malady”.
While lamenting the increasing abuse of minors, Ezilo said, “right now there is a case we are handling; a particular primary school child suddenly started living a life of withdrawal, the teacher who had known her for long, made enquiries and discovered that her father has been abusing her.
“This brings us to the issue of cause of rape; why is it on the increase? Some people talk of dressing but it is not true; what of a 10 month old girl? Is it her breast or what?
“We have a case now of an 80-year-old great grandmother, who was raped while she was sleeping; what is the reason, is it also her dressing? She was left traumatized, very close to her grave.”
She urged the society to take up the cases of rape seriously, stressing that “there is no need hiding it; it should be reported. Sexual violence is an abuse of human rights; it should not go un-punished.
“Our message is very clear- Stop rape; Report Rape; We say no to rape.”
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