Women leaders in Kisii County have been urged to organise a stakeholders’ forum to discuss the way forward in combating child defilement in the region.
In an interview with the county’s Director of Children’s Services Ms Dorcas Raini, she said lack of awareness on what steps the victim should take was proving to be a stumbling block in the fight against defilement incidents in the county.
“It becomes difficult to get the truth in the absence of witnesses or when the victim takes a bath immediately after the incident thereby tampering with critical medical evidence. People do not know what they are supposed to do. We need to create awareness for these cases to see justice,” said Raini on Wednesday.
She added that some defilement cases failed to see the light of the day as they lacked tangible medical evidence noting that they were reported long after the victim had been defiled.
Raini also advised parents of the affected minors against seeking out of court negotiations, and instead institute legal action as this was the only way to discourage perpetrators.
She further urged parents to teach their children basic sex education as this will assist in curbing incidents of sexual abuse in minors.