Experts have advised parents of rape victims not to wash off sperm and blood stains until the case has been reported to police.
The experts gave the advice at a town-hall meeting on Tuesday in Kano to commemorate the 2023 16 Days of Activism on Global Campaign for the elimination of Violence Against Women.
The meeting was organised by the Coalition for Policy Advocacy, Kano, C-PAK, in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption, RoLAC.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Zubaida Nagee, representing BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights from C-PAK, said if sperm and blood, or other fluids were washed off, it would be difficult for police to establish cases against suspects.
“Leaving blood or sperm on the body of a victim, could convince Police to take action on the incident for prosecution.
“To doctors, it does not matter whether the stain is washed off or not, as they could investigate and find that a victim truly suffered rape or other form of assault.
“Police want to have clear evidence of rape, which include stain of blood or sperm, to establish the case,” Nagee said.
Nagee decried the rising cases of gender-based violence, especially among married couples, calling on stakeholders to continue to address GBV issues starting with rectifying negative behaviours at the family level.
Also speaking, Hajiya Binta Buba, a counsellor at WARAKA Sexually Assault Referral Centre (SARC), Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, lamented the prevalent cases of rape.
“We receive frightening number of rape cases on a daily basis, especially against minors.”
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Buba called on parents, traditional, religious leaders and relevant stakeholders to be proactive to end the menace of gender-based violence.
“Lack of funding is the major catalyst scuttling the fight against rape and other violence against women and children (VAWC).
“We have challenges in prosecution. Most of the times, we face delay in delivering judgement and the entire prosecution against suspects,” Buba said.
The meeting was attended by traditional rulers, civil society organisations, Ulamas, and media practitioners where vital issues were raised on how to check the issue of violence against persons.
The 16 days of activism against GBV has the theme: “UNITE: Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.
Source: NAN
