BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Yenagoa—The International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Bayelsa State chapter, has called on parents of rape victims not to accept out of court settlement in the course of seeking for justice.

Chairperson of FIDA, Mrs. Pere Egbuson, in Yenagoa, decried the incessant rape cases in the society and called for stiffer penalty for offenders.

The out of court settlement, she noted, would encourage the would be offenders to continue such crime against children and women in the society.

She called on parents to always report such matters to the police and get doctors report, as well as involve FIDA or any other lawyer, adding that the body would protect the victim and prosecute offender and pursue the case to its logical conclusion.

Mrs Egbuson noted with sadness that rape cases have been on the increase in recent times, while victims are most times reluctant to prosecute the matter in court because of the perceived negative publicity and fear of stigmatisation.

She urged rape victims to speak up when faced with such challenges, without fear or favour as FIDA provides free legal services for victims, who could not afford the services of a lawyer.

She called on parents to be vigilant and watchful over their children especially the girl-child and also to be close to their children to ensure that they could open up to them on such rape matters.

Mrs. Egbuson further called on parents to be careful with people they keep their children with assuring that FIDA would educate and sensitise the populace on the dangers of rape against children and women.