“Why do we have rape within the family? Peace begins at home – let’s be responsible fathers and end rape in the family,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police Victim Friendly Unit says more than 2,400 children under the age of 18 were victims of rape between January and October 2012. Overall 3,421 sexual abuse cases were reported during that period. The report says neighbours account for 41 percent of perpetrators, while relatives left to care for children accounted for 27 percent.
“We have been working closely with the ZRP – rape within the family is on the rise. This is distressing because cases of this nature usually take long before being reported. Men should take action and end rape in their communities by protecting the girls in the house,” said Hazangwi.
Padare plans to engage men in community dialogues to end rape and to become responsible fathers. “We will also speak to young boys in schools so that they don’t follow this bad path,” added Hazangwi.
Zimbabwe Girl Child Network Director, Edinah Masanga, said Girls Support Networks had been formed in many schools to enable girls to speak out about abuse.
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Post published in: News