Senator Florence Ita-Giwa said the best
way to end rape and sexual assault in the country is by ensuring convicted
rapists get capital punishment, which
does not entail killing them but cutting off their genitals.
Ita-Giwa, who represented Cross River in the Senate
and later served as Special Adviser on
National Assembly Matters to former President Goodluck Jonathan, spoke
as a special guest at ‘Magnenta and
Black Art & Fashion for Charity’, a fund raising exhibition for Mirabel
Centre, held at the British Council, Lagos by a group under the aegis of
Friends of Mirabel.
She maintained that throwing child- rapists into
prison is not enough justice but cutting off their genitals will ensure they do
not use them on other children.
Making reference to accounts of rape by two
survivors at the event, the senator said: “The
lady said she was happy that she got justice for her four-year-old daughter who was raped by two
men but, in my mind, if I were a judge and a man is brought to court for raping
a child, he will receive capital punishment. But I will say, `don’t kill him,
rather let him live his life in pain, let his organ be cut off’. He should not
be allowed the pleasure of using that organ anymore. If the organ is not cut
off, at the end of his term in prison, he will use it on other children.
Fortunately for them, I’m no longer in the Senate but I will find a way to get
it into the chamber. This is the proper way to end the evil of rape in the
society”.
While commending Mirabel Centre for its commitment
towards rehabilitating survivors of sexual assault and rape, she pledged support
to the Centre and called on all to join in the fight against rape and sexual
assault.
Also speaking, the Managing Partner at Partnership
for Justice and Founder Mirabel Centre, Mrs Itoro Eze-Anaba, said that the
situation had reached a stage that girls are no longer safe in their homes
since fathers and uncles rape them.
“Rape is not a
girls’ or women’s issue, it is a community issue because boys are also being raped
daily. The implication is that if we do not end it, the abused may end up as an
abuser and a time will come when the society will be filled with abusers,” Eze-Anaba said.
She called on public spirited individuals and
organizations to support Mirabel Centre to continue with the good work of
protecting children.
Say
“NO” to RAPE and SEXUAL ABUSE – Walk Against Rape Nigeria!
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