Sexual abuse: NGO advocates stiffer penalty for offenders

Sexual abuse: NGO advocates stiffer penalty for offenders
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Punishment
Gwagalape (FCT), May 25, 2018 (NAN) The Complete Woman Foundation, an NGO, on Friday advocated for stiffer penalties for sexual abuse offenders to curb increasing incidents in the country.
The foundation’s President, Mrs Ireti Ade-Oyinleye, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a sensitisation programme for over 1,700 pupils of Local Education Authority Nursery and Primary School, Gwagalape, near Nyanya, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“Child sexual abuse is not new in the society; children are being abused daily and there is need for stiffer penalties for offenders.
“Most victims of child sexual abuse who have become adults today find it difficult to relate with others.
“Some have got over it through constant counseling; others are in pains today about the sexual abuse they faced as children; so, we decided to come out and speak to the children.
“I believe that when children are informed, they will know exactly what to do to keep and protect themselves and their friends because prevention is better than cure,” she said.
“Child abuse has dire consequences on victims and the society.
“So, I call on the Federal Government to provide stiffer penalty for sexual abuse offenders to deter people with similar tendency from indulging in the menace,” the activist said.
Ade-Oyinleye described such offenders as people with animalistic mentality and should not be left to go free.
“I have heard about people who report sexual abuse to the police station and days after the perpetrator is released; this person will go out there and molest others.
“When sexual abuse cases are reported, adequate investigations should be done and they should ensure that the perpetrator is appropriately punished so that it will help get rid of such persons in the society,’’ she said.
Ade-Oyinleye said that the sensitisation would help the children guard themselves better.
“We have come to talk to them about the dangers of child sexual abuse and things they should look out for so that they don’t get to become victims.
“Some victims are being threatened that if they say anything about what happened to them, they will be punished or killed; if they keep quite perpetrators will continue their evil acts on others.
“So , we expose the children to all of these tactics so that they can be aware and protect themselves,’’ she reiterated.
On parenting, she said that some parents were careless in handling the upbringing, security and welfare of their children.
According to her, some parents value money more than the proper upbringing of their children.
“Some parents are careless; they give their children to care givers, teachers, domestic helps and these are people that molest these children most of the time.
“Similarly, if some parents want to attend a party, they send their children to a friend’s place to stay, whereas those children are being molested right under their friend’s roof.
“We have forgotten that these children are our future; if they are not well brought up, all our efforts in ‘chasing’ wealth will be in vein.
“Parents should be more careful, vigilant and should be ready to listen to their children when they report; parents should listen to them,’’ she advised. (NAN)
CMY/VIV/MST
Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola