Angered by the increasing reports of r*pe and other forms of s*xual abuses against women and children, Lagos State deputy governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, yesterday, canvassed life imprisonment for convicted defilers and pedophiles to serve as deterrent to people committing the crime.
The deputy governor, who made the call at a press briefing to commemorate the 2014 International Day of the African Child, also advocated compulsory psychiatric test for pedophiles and defilers.
She argued that with tough sanctions such as life sentences without options of fine for the offenders, there will be a significant drop in r*pe cases across the country.
The deputy governor said, “We must jointly be committed to putting a stop to all forms of s*xual harassment, assault and abuse, particularly r*pe cases against our girl-children. Parents should not hesitate to report such cases to the police in order to expose and prosecute the offenders to serve as a deterrent to others. Again, we must all break the culture of keeping silent on r*pe cases and violence.
“Recently, I made an assertion that with the increase in r*pe cases and s*xual harassment, there is perhaps the need to make psychiatric test compulsory for some men as part of the routine checks, especially the perpetrators.
“I notice sociopathic tendencies in some men; a situation where a father impregnates his own daughter or a blood brother impregnates his sister or an uncle impregnating his cousin cannot be explained and calls for concern.
“I am, however, optimistic that with the stringent sentence of a life jail with no option of fine for offenders, I think there will be a maximum reduction in r*pe cases. We would also require the full support of law enforcement agencies and the court to ensure justice and successful prosecution of offenders”.
Orelope-Adefulire said there is need for increase in the funding of the education sector to address the challenge of providing qualitative and compulsory basic education for all children of school age in the country irrespective of s*x, ethnic background and social status.
She also said all hands must be on deck to stop all sorts of abuse against children, particularly the girl-child, lamenting that children in some parts of the country are still being subjected to child marriage and female private part mutilation.
The deputy governor noted that this year’s celebration reiterates the clarion call for the rescue of the Chibok girls abducted two months ago, appealing to the nation’s leaders to do everything possible to ensure that the girls are reunited with their families.
Information Nigeria reports that the Day of the African Child has been celebrated on June 16 every year since 1991 to honor those, mostly school children, who took part in the Soweto uprising of 1976 on that day. It also raises awareness of the continuing need for improvement of the education provided to the African child.
This year’s celebration has as its theme: “A child-friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children in Africa”.