The minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen, has advocated castration as the most suitable punishment for perpetrators of incest and rape in Nigeria.
Speaking during a media interaction organised as part of activities lined up to host Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Natalia Kanem who is currently in Nigeria, she added that naming and shaming of perpetrators would also reduce the worrisome trend.
She said: “It is the worst crime against any child. It is not only the child that is badly traumatised and she will love with it for life, the mother too will remain traumatised for all her life and for that we are advocating for a very stringent punishment for such cases of incest.
“I commend the government of Kaduna state for amending the VAP law to include castration and I am advocating for that for any perpetrator that is caught to be castrated.
“If we do one or two, I believe the high burden of incest and rape will drop and that is why we are insisting that all states must domesticate the VAP Act and the Child Rights Act but not just domesticating it, but ensuring high implementation.
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“The naming and shaming of perpetrators will also help to stem down the cases of incest,” Tallen added. Executive Director of UNFPA Dr. Natalia Kanem, who urgedwomenandgirlswhofall victims to take and incest not to be coerced into silence especially by family members, advised the society to desist from laying blames on affected individuals, but rather, demand justice for theright, dignity and well being of the victims who may end up traumatised.
“The factor that works against us in society is the conspiracy of silence and the risk of the person affected being blamed. Its very important from an early age for a girl to have an appreciation of her full human rights. During this 16 days when we urge the world against violence, the principle upon which we stand is the principle of human right, dignity, work and wellbeing, respect for every individual
“If in a situation of incest, rape or any other form of sexual abuse the victim is coercedintosilence, thereisother dangers to herself typically the girl, but there is also the understanding that others are complacent in this behaviour.
“This is why I appeal to us all not to be a by-stander, but to be willing to pull the curtain back and ask the question and also to report accurately and honestly and not blame the victim of incest or rape regardless of what she may be wearing, the hour of the night.
“Sadly other circumstances where the family is suppose to nurture and cradle you and be a place of refuge is a place of harm. “There are hot lines all across Nigeria where you can call and ask for assistance. No one should be forced to remain silent during situations that can in fact be life threatening and sexual and gender based violence is such an instance.”
