For the record: Communique issued at the end of a round-table discussion of Penpushing online Media on ‘’Rapist and the havoc, the solution to the menace” held on Friday 1st May, 2020

PREAMBLE 

The issue of rape and defilement is attaining a serious challenge globally. This therefore calls for concern as it gives governments, citizens and the civil society groups’ serious concern. Rape and defilement are grievous, dehumanizing and it should be condemned by all and sundry.

Survivors and their families are also shy of the labeling and stigmatization that is often associated with reported cases. This, in a way has encouraged the culture of silence.  The daily occurrences of the heinous crimes at this stage of our national life therefore call for collective concern in the process of eliminating it.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants are drawn from members of the Online Media Platform of Penpushing Media who were all top professionals in politics, traditional rulers, captains of industries, security experts, media top shots and other professionals of over 200 members.

The discussion focused on rape and defilement. At the end of the exhaustive discussion lasting twenty four (24) hours, members came up with the following resolutions.

Rape and defilement has a severe emotional, psychological and physical trauma that the survivors have to contend with forever. Hence, it identifies rapists and defilers as killers that must not let go off the hook.

It calls for strengthening of the existing laws on gender based violence (GBV) at both the states and at the national level. There is need for a specialized multi-disciplinary unit to cater for all round needs of victims (medical, psychological, legal etc).

Calls for mental, educative and rehabilitative reforms of the perpetrators. It identifies attitude of the people and citizens as a greatest impediment as undue pressure are mounted on the Police  and at times, the refusal of family members to show up in court to give evidence often times led the Police to drop cases against the perpetrators and the courts having no alternative than to strike out the case.

There is need to criminalize victims’ families who oppose prosecution of perpetrators.

It recognizes the dearth of knowledge and capacity in the handling of rape and defilement issues among the security agencies and therefore calls for capacity building of Police officers on rape and defilement cases.

The delay in the administration of Justice in cases of rape and defilement is rampant and there is need for the Judiciary to hasten up the process. The society has come to accept the culture of keeping silence in cases of rape and defilement of minors and young girls. This has to change to expose the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

There is urgent need to strengthening the specialised units of the Police at the Divisional level so as to know how to handle referral and transfer of cases appropriately. It condemns the lust for money and get rich quick syndrome particularly among the youths and the citizens as encouraged by some negative herbalists and native doctors.

The participants identified the critical role that men need to play in the fight against rape and defilement as well as gender based violence generally and calls on the men in the state and National Houses of Assembly to take an active role for it not to be seen as a women issue.

Rape and defilement survivors should be taken to the nearest Police Station and the nearest Government Hospital for medical examination.

Rape and defilement cases should be reported to the Police as soon as it is discovered.To further check the menace of rape and defilement, perpetrators should be castrated. Cases of rape and defilement should be an exemption to the State Pardon Policy.

The fight against rape should go beyond our cities and extended to rural communities where the menace is rife and often settled without the involvement of law enforcement agencies to prosecute the culprits.

CONCLUSION

Participants commended the Police and called for increased collaboration from all stakeholders to bring the perpetrators to book so as to get results The effect of rape and defilement on the victim and the negative impact on the society is such that the over-all goal should be to completely eliminate it from our society. It is an evil wind which blows no one any good.