Some female lawyers in Abuja have advised the federal government to create rape crisis centres, counseling service and other victims assistance agency as measures to address the menace of rape.
The lawyers gave the advice in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
A lawyer, Mrs. Chinelo Oputa, said rape incidents were increasing in different parts of the country and there was an urgent need for government to assist the victims.
Oputa said that effective and well managed crisis centres and counselling units would help the rape victims to learn how to cope with the emotional trauma and physical impacts of the assault.
She said that reported cases of rape were, in most cases, not properly investigated before charging suspects to court resulting in letting the suspects off the hook or giving them light punishments.
Another Abuja-based female lawyer, Mrs. Oluwaseye Odediran, said that most rape victims in the country lived with the trauma because of lack of counseling.
She said that some of them develop phobia for men and see all opposite sex as evil.
“Investigations and researches have shown that many rape victims get involved in homosexual and detest marriage if there is no adequate counseling,’’ she said.
Odediran said government could partner with relevant Non-Governmental Organisations in setting up crisis centres and counseling units.
“Parents should be sensitive to those picking and dropping their children at schools,’’ she said.
She added that parents should watch out for those who have access to their children and who could abuse them.
Odediran also said that rape victims should be encouraged to report the crimes instead of keeping it to themselves.
Mrs. Temitope Femi noted that sensitisation, especially of young girls to indecent dressing, could also reduce the high level of rape incidents.
“Young girls nowadays dress in such a way that some parts of their bodies are not covered.
She stressed that government should assist in organising sensitisation programmes in communities and schools on rape, management of victims and what could be done to prevent the menace. (NAN)