It’s now mandatory to report rape cases — FG

COUNSELLING Ambassadors Organisation (TCAO), on Monday called for stiffer penalties for sexual offenders, perpetrators of domestic violence and those who protect them from prosecution.
President of TCAO, Iyabo Obasa, made the call,
while speaking during a sensitisation walk, as part of activities of the Press Week organised by the Lagos State Governor’s Office Correspondents (LAGOCO).
This was just as the Director, Office of Public Defenders (OPD), Omotola Rotimi, said that reported cases of assault, rape and domestic violence had increased, disclosing that no fewer than 14,166 cases of domestic violence had been recorded since 2007, with 2,000 of them so far recorded for this year alone.
On her part, the Coordinator of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, disclosed that it was now mandatory for all residents to report cases of sexual offense and harassment to the appropriate authority.
To this end, she said that no fewer than 600 mandated reporters had been trained, with 2500 students from 50 schools in the state engaged over 2500 students from 50 schools in the state, for the purpose.
Speaking further, President of TCAO, Obasa said the increase in sexual harassment, rape, among others was as a result of cover ups by traditional rulers, neighbours and family members of victims.
According to Obasa, who disclosed that no fewer than 406 rape cases had been recorded this year alone, it was such conspiracies that had encouraged perpetrators to continue in the crime.
“Sexual violence happens in our homes, it happens to us but most of us keep quiet about it. There are so many women that are battered at home but they will not come out to talk about it because of the culture that is against you reporting your husband, so you have to keep quite. But those times are now gone,” Obasa said.