NGO calls for stiffer penalty to curb child molestation
An Ilorin based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO); Grand-Charity Youth Development (GCYD), has called for stiffer penalty against child molesters saying such will serve as deterrent towards curbing the menace in the society.
In a press conference today, the coordinators of the GCYD, urged the Kwara State government and the state House of Assembly to review the child law act and make it stiffer to accommodate longer years of imprisonment for anyone found culpable.
A pharmacist from the University of Ilorin and member of the NGO, Haishat Olufadi-Ahmed, charged parents to be sensitive to their children’s plights saying they should report to the appropriate authority, any strange development noticed on their child’s body.
She said the parents should speak out and stop being afraid of any form of stigmatisation associated with the menace saying they help save the future of their children especially, the girl child.
In her words, she said, “In this period of coranavirus when children are home, fathers, mothers, let us all watch for our children, that neighbour that makes your girl sit on his lap, that brother that’s being overly close to your family, becareful.
“Watch out for signs, check if your girl cries, every weep, shout, scream are messages that must be attended to.”
The NGO legal aide, Ibrahim Shuaib, however, advocated for speedy dispensation of justice in the case of anyone alleged to have sexually molested a child.
According to him, the NGO had report of over 10 cases of child molestation in the past one week saying for fear of stigmatisation, some parents resolved to settle it at home.
He also called on parents who may not have financial mussles to prosecute case against the offenders to approach the association saying the GCYD is battle ready to do it on Pro Bono.
Shuaib, however, advocated for speedy dispensation of justice in the case of anyone alleged to have sexually molested a girl child.
He added that there must be stipulated time to which child molestation case should last in the court, saying dragging the matter is not healthy for the society who are anxiously waiting to see what becomes of the molester.
