The Ministry of Gender & Development says it is saddened by the recent death of twelve year-old little Olivia Zinna Jallah, a rape victim who died at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital on December 18, 2012.The death of little Olivia Z. Jallah brings to three the number of children between the ages of 7 and 13 who were raped and subsequently died as a result of the rape in 2012. Two other children were allegedly raped by their uncles which led to demise.
Twelve years old Olivia Jallah was allegedly raped in 2007 by her uncle, Joseph Nupolu in Todee Statutory District, Montserrado County. The culprit is yet to face trial. As a result of the rape, she carried a 'Colostomy bag' on her lower right side of her body for five years. Throughout these years of painful struggle, little Olivia was determined to go through the walls of the Star Rock International School in Caldwell.
The Ministry of Gender and Development has shouldered the responsibility for the funeral at the A.B Roberts Funeral Parlor and burial which took place over the weekend at the Thinker's Village Cemetery. The current state of the mother of the twelve year-old girl is unbearable and needs urgent attention.
On September 18 and 25, 2012 two survivors aged eight and 13 years old died after they were raped by people close to them. The eight-year-old was raped by her cousin in Bong County, Aaron Sackie (18 years) and the 13-year-old girl was raped by one Varney Sombai, a neighbor, also in Bong County. The perpetrators of these hideous crimes are currently undergoing prosecution by the Ministry of Justice.
Data collected by the Ministry of Gender and Development in 2012 shows that over 60% of rape cases across the country involved children between the ages of 10 months and 13 years and shows an increase in child rape. It is inexcusable and disheartening that cases of rape of children are rampant in Liberia; this we believe, sends a message of a feeling of impunity among perpetrators that there will be no serious consequences to their devilish action.
