The Directorate of Gender Affairs today called for a “thorough and impartial” probe into rape allegations two police officers warning that the alleged act could discourage victims from reporting.
In a statement the directorate said it is “extremely disheartened” to hear of the alleged involvement of two officers of the law.
“Such allegations not only damage the credibility of the Royal Police Force of Antigua & Barbuda but also betray the trust that communities and individuals place in state authorities,” it said.
The directorate warned that allegations such as these discourage victims of sexual assault and other forms of trauma and gender-based violence from reporting these crimes and seeking the necessary services.
“They also have the potential to retard any progress that was made nationally on addressing this issue” the statement added.
The two police officers are likely to be charged with the offences after the raped, buggered and assaulted a woman over the weekend.
The directorate called for the matter to be “subjected to a thorough and impartial investigation.”
Over the years, the Ministry of Social Transformation through its Directorate of Gender Affairs has provided training and capacity building support to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda and has vowed to continue its efforts to ensure that officers understand the root causes of gender-based violence and the importance of victim-centred approaches.
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