Some adolescents in Anambra have called for stiffer punishment for rape and other gender-based violence offenders to mitigate the rising cases of the offences in the country.

The adolescents, who volunteered themselves as child rights activists, made the call at a parliamentary dialogue session on rape, causes and solutions in Awka on Saturday.

The Newsmen reports that the session was organised by Hope Givers Initiative (HOG-I) – a non-profit organisation for orphans and vulnerable children, women and youth.

Reports have it that the state Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Social Welfare, had earlier announced that no fewer than 80 rape cases were reported during the lockdown in the state.

The adolescents identified the causes of rape to include, lack of self-control and parental care, exposure to pornography, indecent dressing, cultism, drug abuse and lack of sexual education, among others.

A Participant, Miss Angela Nwarienne, said there were many rapists even among those campaigning against the menace, noting that such people easily evaded prosecution because they flaunted ‘money and power’.

Miss Chinenye Emmanuel urged victims and family members to speak up and report such abuses to authorities for prosecution.

Others called for the death penalty, creation of more awareness on dangers of rape, effective implementation of relevant laws, support and counselling for victims as well as avoiding stigmatisation.

Mrs Onyeka Udegbunam, Executive Director, HOG-I, explained that the adolescents were brought together as champions to carry out campaigns and speak up for rape victims in their society.

“As ambassadors, you are expected to hold programmes against rape and we shall be supporting you,” Udegbunam said.

The executive director, however, called on the Anambra Government to establish a correctional centre for children to reduce crime among adolescents in the state.

Dr Ifeanyichukwu Ezebialu, a Lecturer at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, noted that the societal approach to rape deterred victims from reporting cases.

Ezebialu, who noted that a wide range of consequences emanated from rape, advised victims to visit the nearest hospital immediately before proceeding to Police Station.

“This is essential to make early medical documentation and proffer reproductive services as well as other good healthy life for the victim against infectious diseases and complications,” he explained.

The medical expert also called for a mechanism to ensure that the culprits did not return to communities where rape incidents occurred if legal punishment for such case was not served on them.

Mrs Okwy Igwegbe, Deputy Clerk, Anambra House of Assembly, said the state applied the Child Rights Law 2004; Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, 2017; and Criminal Code to combat gender-based violence.

Igwegbe said such violence included, female genital mutilation, rape, sexual assault, child marriages and child betrothal, among others.

She said the punishment for offenders included, life imprisonment, 20 years without fine for gang rape, fine, compensation for the rape victim and 14 years for any other form of sexual abuse.

Also speaking, Mrs Josephine Onah, the state Coordinator, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) expressed happiness seeing children enlisting to prosecute the campaign against rape.

Onah promised that ROLAC would continue to assist to see that the rights of children were protected in the state.

The coordinator, who called for synergy in the implementation of laws against child abuses, said her organisation was facilitating the establishment of two family courts in Onitsha on June 24.

On her part, Mrs Nkechi Anazodo, the Head of Department, Child Department, Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Social Welfare, expressed the state government’s determination to prosecute rape offenders.

“The state government is fully out to fight rape because abusers will no longer go free,” Anazodo, represented by Miss Obianuju Nwude said.

She urged members of the public to dial the following numbers 09066916915, 08036661325 and 08107729662 to report cases of rape.