The 2020 ranking by World Population Review places Botswana in the second spot after South Africa out of the top 10 countries with the highest rates of rape in the world.Botswana has the second highest rate of rapes in the world: 92.9% incidents per 100,000 people, according to the World Population Review.The organization explained that these figures do not take into account rape incidents that go unreported to the police.The statistics by World Population Review are not unfounded.On 14^th April this year, the Botswana Police Service revealed statistics of gender-based violence since the introduction of extreme social distancing. Deputy Commissioner Operations, Dinah Marathe said from 23rd March 2020 to 5th April 2020, Botswana Police Services recorded 31 cases of defilement and 22 cases of rape.

Marathe said Botswana Police has introduced a toll-free number, 0800600144 specifically for gender-based violence issues which will assist in curbing these incidents.February 2020, a National Pitso ya Borre in Molepolole organized by Botswana Police, Commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe revealed that rape cases in 2019 stood at 2 265.The World Population Review report stated that many of the countries with high rape statistics need to look beyond just legislation to fix the problem.“These countries need to look at the deep, systematic dysfunction of their cultures and social norms that have not prevented and do not prevent sexual violence,” the report says.

The 10 countries with the highest rates of rape (number of incidents per 100,000 citizens) are South Africa at 132.4%, Botswana at 92.9%, Lesotho (82.7%), Swaziland (77.5%), Bermuda (67.3%),Sweden (63.5%), Suriname (45.2%), Costa Rica (36.7%),  Nicaragua (31.6%), Grenada (30.6%).

The report states that as in many other countries, rape is grossly underreported in the United States due to victim shaming, fear of reprisal, fear of family knowing, cases not being taken seriously by law enforcement, and possible lack of prosecution for the perpetrator.

“Because many women who experience sexual violence rarely report or come forward about their incidences, exact rape numbers are challenging to report. While many countries have laws against the act of sexual assault and violence, many of them are insufficient, inconsistent, and not systematically enforced.

The report says women aged between 16-19 are four times more likely to be victims of rape or sexual assault and female college students ages 18-24 are three times more likely to experience sexual assault. Transgender people and those with disabilities are twice as likely to be victims of sexual assault or rape, the report says.

Source: www.sundaystandard.info