Mozambique: Authorities record 95 cases of sexual assault during festive season – AIM

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Mozambique: Authorities record 95 cases of sexual assault during festive season – AIM

7:52 CAT | 06 Jan 2023

The data was shared on Thursday, in Maputo, by Felix Pinto (pictured), in representation of the Ministry of Health, at a joint press conference on the assessment of the festive season.“We still observe with concern the occurrence of domestic violence and sexual violence. Although it has decreased, we still register worrying cases, 95 cases registered in the hospital units of rape and domestic violence of about 213 cases”, he said. [Photo: Social Media]

The Mozambican authorities recorded during the festive season 95 cases of sexual assault, as well as 213 cases of domestic violence.

This data was shared on Thursday, in Maputo, by Felix Pinto, in representation of the Ministry of Health, at a joint press conference on the assessment of the festive season.

“We still observe with concern the occurrence of domestic violence and sexual violence. Although it has decreased, we still register worrying cases, 95 cases registered in the hospital units of rape and domestic violence of about 213 cases”, Pinto said.

These are the known figures. Since most victims of physical and sexual violence do not report the attacks to the police, the real figures are likely to be much higher.

For his part, the head of the Investigation of Accidents Department of the Mozambican Police (PRM), Agostinho Amor, said that a total of 24 people died and 89 others were injured in 19 road accidents recorded during the same period.

“The PRM recorded a total of 19 traffic accidents against 42 in the same period last year, the 2021/22 festive season”, he said. There was a considerable decline in the number of deaths and injuries from traffic accidents. The police recorded 24 deaths, compared with 48 the previous year. There were 22 serious injuries compared with 41 in the 2021/2022 season. Amor said that the main causes of accidents continue to be excessive speed.

“In general, we can say that the festivities took place in a calm environment, to the extent that we registered a 55 per cent reduction in the number of traffic accidents”, he said.

In the field of road safety, PRM prioritized raising awareness to persuade motorists to observe the elementary rules of road traffic.

“We also raised the awareness of passengers”, said Amor. “We distributed leaflets in the terminals, as well as in the main corridors where members of the Traffic Police were deployed and I would like believe that this methodology had positive effects”.