Rape cases skyrocket in Nimba
Madam Yah Belleh Suah
The coordinator for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in Nimba County has alarmed over the rapid increase of rape cases in the county.
Madam Yah Belleh Suah says just in May 2016 over nine (9) rape cases were reported thus, raising grave concern in the county. The cases include a ten (10) months old victim, Madam Suah told Radio Sehnwai, a community radio station via mobile phone over the weekend.
She said some of the rape victims, especially children, were dying as a result of the abuse, cautioning community residents to take precaution for their kids. The county coordinator said if Liberia should have brighter future, rapists should desist from destroying the lives of children.
She stressed that it is not about rape victims alone, but the county’s image is also being tainted. She pointed to prolonged court trial as one of the challenges facing gender cases and rape perpetrators in Nimba.
Following the enactment of a new rape law in 2010, the Liberian government subsequently established a fast track court – Court ‘E’ at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia to speed up trials of rape suspects.
Under the new rape law, the crime is non-bailable and punishable by 10 years or life sentence, depending on its gravity.
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-Editing by Jonathan Browne
