For a lot of rape victims, getting justice is a mirage.
According to the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, at least 120 million girls under the age of 20 — about 1 in 10 – have been forced to engage in sex or perform other sexual acts (and the actual figure is likely much higher).
Every year in Ghana, the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) records more than 15,000 cases of sexual and gender-based violence.
An average of 40 cases of sexual violence are reported daily in Ghana, authorities have revealed.
Before processing cases for court, the police require forensic medical examination from a certified health practitioner, which costs between GH₵300 and GH₵800.
The medical forensic exam, often called a rape kit, helps assess a victim’s health needs.
This documentation is also necessary to launch criminal investigations by providing evidence of injuries and other indicators of force or coercion against a victim.
The rape kits can also help establish the offender’s identity through DNA samples.
But for many victims, this fee is prohibitive, yet, without it, justice remains elusive.
Therefore, a group of Ghanaian professional ladies based in the Netherlands, Perfect Ladies International, has called on the government to intervene.
“Many people cannot afford this fee, so they desist from reporting the case altogether. It (fee) must be scrapped, “ the leader of the group, Naa Joormo Akua Dedaa I, Queen mother of Kuntunse, said.
The group is partnering with the crime prevention organisation Crime Check Foundation to sensitise the public on rape and sexual violence.
The group also donated €1600 to kick start the campaign in Ghana.
Receiving the cash donation, the Executive Director of Crime Check Foundation, Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, pointed out a few factors that lead to underreported cases of sexual violence.
According to him, the police often lack the capacity for thorough investigations, which could derail justice for victims.
He acknowledged that some community leaders often agree to quick, out-of-court settlements to avoid draining the meagre resources of victims and their families.
However, he stressed that the public “should not encourage that”.
Perfect Ladies International has been in existence for the past five years.
The group focuses on social issues relating to women and girls.
