Friday 8 September 2017

Data on Rape of minor



                     DATA/RECORD OF REPORTED RAPE CASES FROM DECEMBER 2016 – JUNE 2017 IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA. A BI ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT OF RAPE CASES/VICTIMS  BY CYPLP.
YEAR  
MONTH
                 SEX
                                                               AGE
TOTAL















MALE
FEMALE
0-5 YEARS
6-10 YEARS
11-15 YEARS
16-20 YEARS
21-25 YEARS
26-30 YEARS
2016
DECEMBER
         0
        1
       _
    _
     1
     _
      _
      _
         1
2017
JANUARY
         0
         2
       1
     1
       _
       _ 
       _
      _
          2
2017
FEBUARY
         1
         5
        2
      2
     _
      1
      1
      _
         6
2017
MARCH
         1
          7
        2
       4
      _
       2
       _
      _
        8
2017
APRIL
        10
         4
        _
       3
       9
       2
      _
      _
       14
2017
MAY
         1
         6
        _
       1
        5
        _
       1
        _
        7
2017
JUNE
          0
           7
        1
        3
       2
        _
      _
         1
         7













Source – Salama SARC.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
DATA ANALYSIS-
Data are as collated from Salama - Sexual Assault Response Center, Kaduna State Nigeria.  And we have studied to recognize that there is increasing wave of rape of minors in Nigeria. From the record and time under review, there is no month a case of rape of minor is not recorded, no month a case of rape of a girl- child is not also recorded. The most frequently reported recorded cases are victims between 6-10 years old.  April 2017, recorded the highest number of reported cases where 10 boys between the ages of 6-15 years were raped by older men. 

From our findings, in every 1 reported case of rape of minor, are 10 unreported cases. Most unreported cases are from poor children used as house help or domestic servants by the rich.  They can’t speak up for fear and even if they will, do not know where and how to go about it. These set of victims are mostly raped by adult children of the family members they are recruited to work as domestic servants including the husband of the house. Other cases are stomach by parents of victims whether poor or rich, in attempt to protect the victim from trauma and tagged name-calling in future. 

There are clear indications that reported cases from this data are parents from poor background living in poor communities, who cannot afford medical bill for victims. And because “Salama Center” offers free counseling and medical treatment to victims of reported rape cases to the center, poor parents have a choice to make. 

However, most people are not aware of this center and will need some work in awareness creation. Victims are counseled and debrief of the rape experience at Salama Center. But there is no avenue to test the functionality of the debriefing and I ask. Therefore, there is no certainty if victim are living a traumatized life or not in future.

Stepping up the game 

Children and Young People Living for Peace; is not for profit youth focused voluntary organization in Kaduna State, Nigeria. They work with data and translate data to problem solve the future. They are passionate about children, and are against rape of minors in particular. They are making plans for a match to raise awareness among parents and guardians including the general public on rape and how to reduce children's vulnerability.  Visit them at www.cyplp.net.ng

Presently, they have written to the Attorney General of Nigeria to promulgate Rules to regulate Child Rights proceedings further to Section 161 of the Child Rights Act, 2003. All this is to tame rape too.

They also defend and monitor for proper prosecution of rape actors at law courts. Their research team is working on following up victims on documentation to determine if the counseling and debriefing by Salama Center works or not. And do interview rape actors to determine what drive them to rape minors. Their  research is on going and will be publishing its findings and report every two years of following up victim’s experience.