Rape Cases On The Rise Despite Sex Offenders Register – NAPTIP

Rape Cases On The Rise Despite Sex Offenders Register – NAPTIP

To name, shame sexual offenders publicly in major media outlets
•ROLAC donates PPEs to NAPTIP

The Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Ms. Julie Okah-Donli, has decried the rise in cases of sexual abuse disclosing that the launch of the sexual offenders register has not been successful in tackling the menace.

The register which was introduced in 2018, is expected to discourage perpetrators and curb incidences of sexual abuse. The register contains names of sexual offenders which is uploaded on the internet to serve as a deterrent to others. But Okah-Donli said the register has been inadequate as the menace does not seem to be abating.

The DG disclosed this on Thursday, when the European Union funded Role of Law and and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) Programme of the British Council, paid a working visit to the agency in Abuja.

She noted that even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a high incudence of sexual violence especially against children.

To this end, Okah-Donli said stiffer measures will have to be taken. She said sexual offenders will not only be named and shamed in the register, but will be publicly disgraced and their names widely publicised in all media channels.

“Rape incest and sodomy is not abating, yhis is becoming worrisome, so we need to do something extra, think out of the box and do out of the box to ensure that these offenders are shamed publicly and it will not just be in the register quietly.

“The sexual offenders register is not enough, not everybody likes to read and not everyone is internet savvy, we need to go out and shame these people.

“So, we need to from time to time, we will put the list on television, newspapers, radio, and on the news. From time to time we will take the register too the public. I believe that this will serve as a deterrent, because during the lockdown, we had over 40 cases, including a four-year old girl raped by her father,” she said.

She therefore solicited the support of RoLAC to achieve the goal.

Earlier, Mr. Danladi Plang who led the delegation from RoLAC said one purpose of the visit is to commend the DG for her doggedness in the fight against Human Trafficking and Child Molestations in spite of the pandemic. He said NAPTIP had continued to work selflessly.

On the issue of sex offenders register, Plang requested the convening of stakeholders meeting to review the operationalizations of the register and profer solutions.

Plang introduced Mrs Ene Ede Obi to the agency and said she will assume the role of a Domestic and sexual violence prevention officer in the interim in accordance of their earlier Agreement with the agency.

According to him, Ene is a gender specialist with 23 years experience. He urged NAPTIP to give her the needed cooperation.

The RoLAC delegation also presented some PPEs to NAPTIP, to enable the staff carry out its duties amid the pandemic. Some of the PPEs includes Hand gloves, Hand Sanitizers, Face macks Jik for cleaning Floor.

By PRNigeria