The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen has advocated for the establishment of a Special Court to prosecute rape, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases and other sex offenders.
While briefing the media on the rampant cases of rape as part of activities to mark the forthcoming International Day of the African Child celebration, Tallen suggested this development.
The minister decried the increasing cases of rape and other forms of violence being recorded during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown across the country.
She described the situation as worrisome and called for urgent attention to curb the tide.
According to her, the ministry is making efforts to expand the existing temporary shelters for women victims of abuse, as well as build new ones for the safety of survivors.
“As we were smarting from the effects of COVID-19, we were again hit by this spate of rapes and murders across the country.
I want to send a very loud signal to these mindless criminals that they can run but they cannot hide as the long arm of the law will catch up with them,” she said.
The minister also advocated the setting up of a Special Fund to address Gender-Based Violence and ensure sustainability of on-going initiatives with contributions from the public and private sectors.
