GEORGE TOWN: Every 35 minutes, a woman in Malaysia is raped, with most of these rape victims being girls below 16.
These were among the startling statistics provided by the Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) of Penang.
Bernama today quoted Penang Women Development Corporation (PWDC) chairman Yap Soo Huey as saying that on average, 3,000 rape cases are reported every year in Malaysia.
She said, based on the statistics from 2000 to 2013, there were 42,449 domestic violence cases, 31,685 rape cases and 24,939 molest cases recorded.
“This means that every 35 minutes, a girl or woman is raped in Malaysia. Many of these involve girls under 16.
“In 2013 alone, there were 2,111 cases involving the rape of minors,” she said.
She was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Penang Goes Orange 2015 campaign, officiated by Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, here today.
Penang Goes Orange 2015, organised by the PWDC since Nov 6, aims to improve awareness on violence against women and gender equality.
Yap said, according to the Home Ministry, 28,741 rape cases were reported between 2005 to 2014 with 16 per cent (4,514 kes) prosecuted, and 2.7 per cent (765) found guilty.