Why rape, gender-based violence on increase, by Falana’s wife

Wife of Lagos human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), Mrs. Funmilayo Falana, has attributed the increasing rate of rape and gender-based violence in the country to low report of the cases by the victims and slow process of the wheel of justice.Falana’s wife, a gender-based activist, lamented that the refusal of the victims to speak out allowed most offenders to escape prosecution, hence people continue to perpetrate the evil act with impunity.She spoke in Iyin-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Council of Ekiti State yesterday after donating food items and other materials to the Erelu Angela Children Home.

According to her: “It is sad that rape and indecent assault in Nigeria is on the increase over the years. Merely opening register for the offender will not solve the problem.“The real problem is in the prosecution of the offenders. If offenders are prosecuted and brought to book, it will serve as deterrent to other would-be offenders.

“In the process of prosecution, police are found of mismanaging the case from the time of investigation and prosecution of rape cases is so technical that before you no it, the victim will say I don’t want to pursue the case again.“Many victims refused to speak out because of the stigma attached to rape and that is the reason why the people continue to perpetrate the evil act. Only few cases get prosecuted because most of the cases are not reported.”

She, therefore, urged the government at all levels to make the welfare of the people their priority to stop dumping and abandonment of babies on the streets by their mothers.“Governments must be responsive enough to provide for socio-economic needs of the people.”

“Government should be more responsive to the citizenry in making life better for them. “If the governments put in place social security for the people, there will be assurance that citizens will have something to take care of themselves and their children, so there won’t be any basis to throw away their children.”