Hussein Khalid, the Executive Director Haki Africa. He has raised concerns over increased human rights violation in the Coast region. [Photo: Maxwwel Ngala/ hivisasa.com]

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Human rights defenders have raised concern over increased human rights violations cases at the Coast.The activists said their quarterly report from January to March 2017 shows there is an increase in human rights violations, especially rape cases.Speaking in his office on Friday, Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid said the report is disturbing as young girls of up to nine years were raped in Old Town in February this year, though no actions were been taken to curb the vice.“I think something must be done and done immediately to save our young girls who are subjected to inhumane incidents by heartless people in the Coast region,” said Khalid.He also noted that the rape cases increased to 105 in the period between January and March this year, compared to 78 between October and December in 2016.Khalid also noted that extra judicial killings in Old Town and Kwale, cases of disappearance in Likoni and increased criminal activities in Changamwe and Kisauni are some of the issues that need to be addressed.The human rights activist also reported increased domestic violence in Mombasa, citing a case in February where a woman chopped off her husband private parts in Changamwe.“In this human rights report, we recorded 44 cases of human rights violation in January, 35 cases in February and 26 cases in March totaling to 105 cases in a single quarter, we are worried,” he said.Khalid also raised concern over the current political situation in the country, where several political rallies have been marred by violence.The Haki Africa Executive Director called upon all stakeholders in the region, including security agents, human rights activists and residents to respect and uphold human rights especially during the electioneering period.“We all need to work together so that we can realize, uphold and protect human rights in the country for peaceful coexistence,” said Khalid.