MMA "horrified" after 15 year old rape victim charged for murder
The young girl was herself a victim nine months ago, and is now again a victim of injustice, says president Dr Koh Kar Chai.
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) is “horrified” after a 15-year-old rape victim was charged for murdering her newborn son.
MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai said the young girl herself was a victim nine months ago, and is now again a victim of injustice.
She had to bear trauma of the rape, the brunt of being pregnant and "face backlash from society", adding to her risk of not just developing mental illness but also further pushing her towards unwarranted behaviour like infanticide,” he said in a statement.
He further ask the reason for the rape survivor not offered proper psychological support through out her pregnancy.
"What horrors and stress must have accompanied this young girl throughout her pregnancy to make her commit infanticide on the day the child was born?," he further added.
He added the health consequences of sexual violence or rape range from gynaecological trauma or unsafe abortions as well as mental health issues including depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder.
Furthermore, he said victims are also exposed to suicide, AIDS, murder during rape, killed for honour or even infanticide of a child born of rape.
Referring to previous cases, Koh said there has been cases where the rapist was allowed to go free for lack of evidence or because no report was made "due to social stigma which ends up with the lady who is the survivor of the rape".
However, the young victim is now being left to face the stigma on her own. There is a definite need to revisit the court’s decision in this case, he urged.
Yesterday, a 15-year-old girl who was raped and gave birth to a son who later died from stab wounds was charged with murder at the Magistrates Court in Kemaman, Terengganu.
