Lagos wants life imprisonment for rapists

                                     The Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire

The Lagos State Government has advocated life imprisonment for convicted rapists and peadophiles to prevent sexual harassment against women and children.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said this on Monday at a press briefing on the 2014 International Day of the African Child.

Orelope-Adefulire, who also advocated compulsory psychiatric test for paedophiles and rapists, explained that with such stringent measures, there would be a significant reduction in rape cases across the country.

She said, “We must jointly be committed to putting a stop to all forms of sexual harassment, assault and abuse, particularly rape cases against our girl-child. 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. We must all break the culture of keeping silent on rape and violence.

“Also, with the increase in rape cases and sexual harassment, there is perhaps the need to make psychiatric test compulsory for some men as part of the routine check, especially the perpetrators. I notice sociopathic tendencies in some men ─ a situation where a father impregnates his own daughter, a blood brother impregnates his sister, or an uncle impregnates his cousin, cannot be explained and calls for concern.

“I am optimistic that with a life jail term with no option of fine for offenders, there will be a great reduction in rape cases. We would also require full support of the law enforcement agencies and the court to ensure justice and successful prosecution of offenders.

“There is need for increase in the funding of education sector to address the challenge of providing qualitative and compulsory basic education for all the children of school age in the country.”

Orelope-Adefuilire lamented that children in some parts of the country were still being subjected to child marriage and female genital mutilation.

She added, “Child stigmatisation, such as the belief in child witches, also has a significant negative effect on children’s rights. These children often suffer frequent violations of their rights and develop emotional and psychological trauma, apart from going through unnecessary torture.”

She said the International Day of the African Child reiterated the call for the rescue of the Chibok girls abducted two months ago.