Police officers are blaming parents for settling sexual crimes against their children at home denying chances to prosecute suspects in courts.
Eastern Equatoria Police Commissioner Henry Danima said settling rape cases and other sexual crimes at domestic level does not help solve the problem, Emmanuel Radio reported.He added that settling child abuses locally encourages perpetrators to continue committing crimes that damage innocent lives.
Major General Danima was responding to concerns raised by journalists on increasing cases of child sexual abuse in the state.
The Police Commissioner advised parents to make culprits of child abuse to face the law and be punished to stop other people from committing similar crimes.
Major General Danima said by taking money and animals to settle sexual crimes against children, parents encourage the rich to continue violating the rights of the children.
The Police Commissioner encouraged community policing to enable the people and law enforcement officers understand the situation of child abuse and approaches that they can use to handle the problem.
He described traditional settlement of sexual related crimes against children as unfortunate and discouraging.
Magwi County recorded highest figures of sexual crimes against children settled by parents in traditional ways without the courts.