Rape cannot be allowed to be a norm in our society.
– Prof. Emeka E. Oguzie. (President IFF)

The president of the International Family Foundation, addressing newsmen at the Foundation’s Headquarters in Abuja, stressed that it is rather unfortunate that we are recording an increased rate of Rape cases in Nigeria and indeed all over the world. A United Nations statistical report covering 65 countries revealed that cases of Rape or attempted Rape to be in excess of 250,000 annually.

Prof. Emeka lamented the recent reported upsurge in this criminal, immoral, antisocial, and dehumanizing act; with leaves grievous irreparable scars on the souls of the victims. He noted that:

• According to org, Africa has the highest prevalence rate of child sexual abuse, accounting for about 34.4 per cent of cases globally.
• As at 2004, 60 per cent of children involved in child trafficking from Africa to Europe were Nigerians.
• Between 2012 and 2013, about 30 per cent of women in Nigeria experienced one form of domestic violence or another.
• Findings from a 2014 National Survey on Violence Against Children in Nigeria revealed that one in four females reported experiencing sexual violence at childhood, with approximately 70 per cent reporting more than one incident of sexual violence. In the same study, it was found that 24.8 per cent of females, aged between 18 and 24 years experienced sexual abuse before turning 18, out of which 5.0% per cent sought help, with only 3.5 per cent receiving any assistance.

There is absolutely no excuse for Rape. None whatsoever. This is a crime against humanity, of which women and young girls are the primary victims.

It would be recalled that NIGERIA’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen, said that two (2) million Nigerians are raped every year. This has prompted the Federal Government to launch a Sex Offenders register, as a means of tackling issues of rape in Nigeria.

The IFF President added that the stigma, shame, medical and psychological consequences of rape lingers for years and regretted that the twin issues of stigma and shame often makes victims shy away from reporting rape cases.

The International Family Foundation is undertaking major public campaigns against Rape, in collaboration with educators, government agencies and other NGOS. This is aimed at sensitizing society on the adverse effects and consequences of crimes of non-consensual sex, sexual abuse and RAPE.

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