The Family Support Centre says it strongly condemns the rape of women and young girls in the community.
In a statement, the centre said there are a lot of rape cases in the communities, which are very shocking.
“It is sad to read and hear women and girls are being raped by somebody they trust and disrespectful men and boys in the community,” the statement said.
“An example was the alleged raped of a 7- year-old girl at North West Choiseul in Choiseul Province last month,” it added.
“Raping of women and girls is a grave and systematic Human Rights violation and Gender based violence.
“It has serious consequences for the victim and causes grave damage to the victim which will impact their lives as long as they live.
“Rape should not be tolerated, justified and it must be stopped in the community.
“It is a serious crime and the law agencies should not show mercy but punish the perpetrators with the full force of the law and award the strongest penalty to the perpetrators to avoid similar cases occurring in the future.”
The statement said women and girls are very important in any family circle and the community.
They also contributed towards the development of their community. They should be respected, valued and protected by men and boys in the community.”
The statement said currently there is an alarming rate of rape in our society which we often read about occurring in the communities.
“In most cases most of the victim of rape are women and girls. This is quite obviously seen as a major problem in our society today.
“There is a need to address rape in the community so that women and girls and men and boys be equally valued in the community and can exercise equal rights.
Despite our country making significant development to end violence against women and girls through government policies and the passing of the Family Protection Act, advocacy programs made by International Organizations, Civil societies and the Honiara Referral (SAFENET) to address and protect victims and survivors of gender-based violence, there are still cases of rape appearing in the news almost every week and month which deeply shocks many families, women and girls today.
“Rape is a violation of a human being and a heinous act performed by someone who wishes to exact complete power and control over another person.
“Either gender can be the perpetrator or the victim of rape. In most cases women and girls are the victims.
“Women and girls are raped by men they know as well as men they have never met before.
“Most rapists are close family members, those of trust, neighbours, and friends of the victim or someone who lives very close to the victims.
“The effects of rape can include both the initial physical trauma as well as deep psychological trauma.
“The most common and lasting effects of rape involves mental health disorders which diminish social confidence.
“Also, the effects can completely disrupt the victim’s life and a healing process must take place to try and put a life back together.”
In a study about 85% – 90% of rape incidents of adult and children are not reported to the police and authorities.
Only 10% of all rape cases are reported.
Many women and girls don’t, or can’t easily report their rape because they often suffer from humiliation and suffering when questioning by responsible authorities. They feel ashamed and cannot cope with anyone knowing what has happened to them, or they might be threatened by the perpetrators if they attempt to report.
“There are people in the communities who know about someone who has survived rape and there are individual women and girls who are survivors of rape, but few, if any report what has occurred.”
The Family Support Centre would like to encourage every victim of rape to come forward and report to any nearby police stations or any service provider on any sexual abuse case they experienced in their lives to help stop such criminal activity.
“Family Support Centre wishes to urge communities and existing groups (churches, youth, women, chiefs etc.) to talk about rape by informing the communities that rape is a heinous crime and once committed and found guilty perpetrators can be imprisoned.
“Also, to work together with Non-Governmental organizations and civil society that have effective programmes to curb Gender Based Violence in the community especially to educate the communities to help to change attitudes, help the victims and work to address and protect victims of rape.
The Family Support Centre wants to appeal to everyone who needs urgent assistance and free confidential counselling to go to its office at Tandai High Way, or call 20619 or 132 (SAFENET free toll line) for face to face help.
Source: Island Sun newspaper.
Yours sincerely
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