About 250 minors have been abused and sexually abused by adults over the past eight months in Manica, central Mozambique, including satanic rituals for illicit enrichment, the province’s chief prosecutor has said.
According to Jorge Tiwane, who is participating in a working meeting in the province of Manica on this topic, from January to August, 190 criminal cases were opened for sexual acts with minors, with 44 people already charged.
Another 59 cases were initiated on the facts of sexual crimes involving victims under the age of 12 years. Of these, 48 cases have already been charged, the person in charge said during a coordination meeting between the prosecutor’s office and the so-called reference group, which includes members of the rule of law commission, judges, prosecutors and civil society organizations that are fighting to stop violence against minors.
“We are faced with the challenge of adequately handling cases, especially crimes against sexual freedom and premature unions,” said Jorge Tivane, stressing that the increase in cases worries the authorities, but at the same time requires efforts to find answers to the problems of children.
“We must minimize the harmful impact of violations of children’s rights,” Jorge Tivane stressed, emphasizing the need for judges to be sensitive to cases of violence against minors.
According to the representative, public and private child protection agencies “need to create conditions for the operation of support services for child victims of crimes, especially crimes against sexual freedom and premature unions.”
The persistence of the myth that one can get rich by having sex with virgins in satanic rituals may be the reason for the increase in cases of rape of children, including infants, say several local activists and human rights defenders.
The Manica Reference Group was created to combat human trafficking and illegal immigration, as well as to prevent premature marriages and protect children’s rights.
This is a three-day session that ends this Friday.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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