30 per cent rape victims below 10 years of age

Kathmandu, April 26

Thirty one per cent child rape victims recorded between December 16 and April 15 were below the age of 10 years, according to Child Welfare Centre Nepal.

A report made public by CWCN shows that of the 74 child rape victims recorded during the period of four months, 31 per cent girls were below the age of 10 years.

Likewise, 62 per cent of the rape victims were between the ages of 11 and 15 years, and seven per cent between the ages of 16 and 18 years. A total of 1,131 rapes were recorded in the fiscal 2015/16 and 795 cases have been recorded so far this fiscal.

Speaking at an interaction here today, activists and social workers said majority of rape cases go unreported due to fear of social stigma.

Chair of Sankalpa Lily Thapa said, “Many rape cases that take place within the family go unreported, while victims from poor families are often offered compensation to keep silent.” The interaction was held to discuss possible measures to reduce rape cases.

Participants of the programme demanded stringent punishment for rape as minors and even elderly women were becoming victims of the heinous crime. Province 3 recorded the highest number of rapes. As per a  recent report, 26 per cent of rape incidents were recorded in the province.  SSP Rabindra Prasad Sharma said the number of rape cases could go up by the end of the current fiscal.

Currently, there are around 48,000 I/NGOs working for the welfare of women and girls.