NHRC EBONYI VOWS TO USE ALL LEGAL PROVISIONS AGAINST RAPE

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, in Ebonyi State says it will henceforth use all legal provisions and instruments to see that all rape related cases are prosecuted irrespective of whom the victims are or interest of highly placed individuals.

The Coordinator of the Commission in the State, Mr Christopher Okorie stated this during a road march to raise public awareness on rising cases of rape in Abakaliki.

The rate of proven incidences of rape and gender based violence has become alarming in recent times with some of the violators going beyond sexual exploitation to taking the lives of their innocent victims.

Worried about the development, the National Human Rights Commission alongside Civil Society Organisations took to the street of Abakaliki to draw public attention to the horrors of rape and to awaken the consciousness of relevant Institutions towards confronting the menace.

Mr Okorie noted that the march was to declare zero tolerance to rape and emphasised the need for cooperation among victims and for law enforcement agencies to educate their officers on prosecuting rape cases to logical conclusion.

A representative of Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Centre, Mr George Etamor explained that most rape incidents were aided by culture of silence and stigmatization and urged victims to speak up.

A Commissioner in Nigeria Girls Guide Association, Dr Christiana Igberi called on parents and caregivers not to conceal rape cases involving their children and wards, emphasising that for rape to be eradicated Human Rights groups require timely information.

Governor David Umahi had at his last live broadcast in the State lent his voice to the campaign against rape and directed the State Attorney General to furnish his office with the number of rape cases being prosecuted in the court.

AMECHI ODO