RAPE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN URGED TO BREAK THE SILENCE AND SPEAK OUT TO ENABLE THEM GET HELP

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Lola Akande gave the advice during a familiarisation visit to the Mirabel Centre, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, a centre for the rehabilitation of sexually assaulted victims. She noted that victims can only get the right counselling, medical care and free access to justice when they speak out.

The commissioner urged the police and all other relevant security agencies to rise up and prosecute the perpetrators when reported, so that victims can get justice.

Centre Manager of the Mirabel Centre Juliet Olumuyiwa Rufai noted that the centre has been receiving tremendous support from LASUTH, and Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as the Ministry of Justice.

She further disclosed that a total of nine hundred and ninety seven rape cases have been treated in their two years of existence and are still doing more.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation was also at the Ministry’s transit home where victims of domestic violence particularly children and women are kept in custody to shield them from further abuse.

The Commissioner later received the Principals of the Ministry’s Skill Acquisition Centres spread across the three senatorial districts of the state who came to pay her a courtesy call.