The Director,
Office of the Public Defender, Lagos State, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi , on Wednesday
said non-availability of kits stalled dispensation of justice in rape
cases. Rotimi made the statement during an interview with the News Agency of
Nigeria in Lagos, stressing that rape kits were necessary in the struggle
against sexual violence. She said, “We don’t even have rape kits in Lagos State
and even in Nigeria, there are none. “Just like you have the kits that are used
for AIDS victims, there should also be rape kits that any medical officer in
any hospital, whether government or private, can immediately use to collect
evidence from rape victims. “Then, the police will use this evidence in court
to prosecute the abusers.”
Rotimi said
that a rape kit was a set of items used by medical personnel for gathering and
preserving physical evidence following an allegation of sexual assault which
could be used during investigation. According to her, the evidence may help
identify the assailant and provide evidence supporting prosecution in a
criminal trial. Rotimi said that perpetrators of sexual violence act with
virtual impunity and escape justice because there were no rape kits. She said
that many cases of rape were not being reported because of lack of confidence
in the criminal justice system and the fear of social stigma.
Rotimi urged
governments to provide rape kits in all health facilities and police stations
to aid collection of evidence and dispensation of justice.
Source: PUNCH, 18/01/2014
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