Group rape rises by 75 percent in one month: MSF
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Women and children seem to be safe nowhere — from inside homes to roads and streets. Sometimes they fall victim to rape, sometimes to gang sexual assault, and sometimes to brutal murder. In terms of numbers, incidents of violence against women and children did not increase much in a month, but the pattern of crimes reveals a worrying picture.
In particular, incidents of group rape increased by nearly 75 percent over a one-month interval. Incidents of sexual assault and murder also rose.
This picture of violence against women and children emerged in the October monitoring report of the Human Rights and Culture Foundation (MSF), published on Saturday. According to the organization's data, there were 354 incidents of violence against women and children in September. In October, this rose to 357. That is, incidents increased by three, or about 0.85 percent, in a month. Although this increase is slight in the overall statistics, an analysis by type of crime makes the severity of the situation clear.
The most alarming picture in MSF's monitoring was found in cases of rape and sexual violence. In October, incidents of rape rose from 69 in September to 70. However, compared to individual rape, the statistics on group rape are more alarming. In September, there were 12 incidents of group rape. In October, this rose to 21. That is, in just one month, group rape increased by nine incidents, or 75 percent.
At the same time, incidents of gang rape rose from seven to ten. Incidents of sexual assault and harassment rose from 16 to 25. Such crimes increased by about 56 percent in a month. However, incidents of murder after rape fell from ten to four, and incidents of attempted rape fell from 36 to 34. But even though the numbers decreased in these cases, there is no room to call the overall picture of sexual violence reassuring. Rather, the organization claims that the upward trend in group rape, sexual assault, and harassment brings to the fore the depth of insecurity for women and children.
According to the organization, every incident of sexual violence not only devastates the life of a victim but its impact spreads to their family and social sphere as well. Therefore, responsibility cannot end with filing a case or making arrests after a crime is committed. The victim's safety, necessary medical treatment, psychological support, and bringing the perpetrators under speedy trial are essential.
There are also signs of concern in the statistics on other violence against women and children. According to MSF data, incidents of physical torture rose from 52 in October to 53. More alarming are incidents of murder. In September, there were 80 incidents of murder of women and children. In October, this rose to 84.
On the other hand, incidents of suicide fell from 35 to 30. Incidents of abduction and disappearance fell from 27 to 14. Incidents of rescuing newborns also fell from nine to six. However, the organization commented that there is no room to see the decrease in numbers in these incidents as a solution to the problem.
