Child-rapists should have their genitals cut off -Ita-Giwa

Child-rapists should have their genitals cut off -Ita-Giwa

By Prisca Sam-Duru

Senator Florence Ita-Giwa yesterday said the best way to end rape and sexual assault in the country is by ensuring that convicted rapists get capital punishment which does not entail killing them but cutting off their genitals.

Ita-Giwa, who represented Cross River in the Senate and later served as Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters to former President Goodluck Jonathan, spoke as a special guest at 'Magenta and Black Art & Fashion for charity, a fund raising exhibition for Mirabel Centre, held at the British Council, Lagos by a group under the aegis of Friends of Mirabel. She maintained that throwing child-rapists into prison is not enough justice but cutting off their genitals will ensure they do not use them on other children.

Making reference to accounts of rape by two survivors at the event, Ita-Giwa said "The lady said she was happy that she got justice for her 4-year old daughter who was raped by two men but in my mind, if I were a judge and a man is brought to court for raping a child, he will receive capital punishment. But I will say don't kill him, rather let him live his life in pain, let his organ be cut off. He should not be allowed the pleasure of using that organ anymore. If the organ is not cut off, at the end of his term in prison he will use it on another woman. Fortunately for them, I'm no longer in the chambers but I will find a way to get it into the chambers. This is the proper way to end the evil of rape in the society.

While commending Mirabel Centre for its commitment towards rehabilitating survivors of sexual assault and rape, she pledged support to the Centre and called on all to join in the fight against rape and sexual assault.

Also speaking, the Managing Partner at Partnership for Justice and Founder Mirabel Centre, Mrs Itoro Eze-Anaba said that the situation has reached an alarming stage such that girls are no longer safe in their homes since fathers and uncles rape them. 

"Rape is not a girls' or women's issue it is a community issue because boys are also being raped daily. The implication is that if we do not end it, the abused may end up as an abuser and a time will come when the society will be filled with abusers.", Mrs Eze-Anaba said.

She called on good spirited individuals and organizations to support Mirabel Centre so as to continue with the good work of protecting children.