6th April, 2014
Senator Helen Esuene, Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs and Youths Matters, has said a bill on sexual violence and harassment against women would soon be passed by the Senate.
Esuene, representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, stated this at the Inauguration of the National Executive Council of Ibom Consolidated Assembly (ICA), in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
She said the bill sought to address the issue of rape and make it easier for the victims to come out to report. “There is a bill currently in the Senate on sexual violence against women. It is supposed to address the issue of rape, to make it easier for victims to come out to report,” she said.
She noted that the bill would create provision for victims of rape to seek justice and the perpetrators to be properly punished.
Esuene described rape against women and girls as ‘really unfortunate and very sad’.
“The issue of rape on women is very unfortunate because it is one crime that shouldn’t be since there are more women than men, why should a man rape a woman or a girl that he shouldn’t even go near.
“The laws are there but for the inhibition people have. Rape victims are already traumatised and often times scared to even go to report at the police stations,’’ she said.
Esuene explained that existing laws makes it very difficult for a rape victim to report and seek justice. “The laws as we have them now is not enabling at all because it makes it very difficult for the rape victim to go and report, because the victim will be asked all manner of questions and because of that, they don’t even want to bother.
“If we don’t report and make the victim to pay according to law, then the crime will continue and increase,’’ she stated.