Grenada Minister Says Men Should Not Be Ashamed To Report Rape Cases

GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Social Development Minister Delma Thomas, last Friday, called on men who are raped not to be ashamed to report the incident to the police because an injustice had been done to them.

“Too many times men are reporting that they are ashamed to report the matter to the police but injustice is injustice and they should report it,” she told Parliament as she informed legislators of the initiatives being undertaken by the government to deal with the situation.

Delma Thomas

She said the Ministry of social Development had on Thursday presented “Gender Based Violence Standard Operating Procedure for Health Professionals” to the Ministry of Health that included 100 rape kits.

Police have reported increases cases of men being raped after the island amended the Criminal Code to recognize that men were victims of rape. They gave no figures.

“It’s not just happening to young boys but to young adults, mature adult and older males and the perpetrators are often young adult males,” according to a police spokesman.

Under the Criminal code a person commits the offence of rape if “ he or she intentionally and unlawfully commits an act which causes penetration with his or her genital organs, of another person” or the “the other person does not consent to the penetration”.

Anyone convicted under the offence is liable on conviction to a term not exceeding 30 years in jail.