Thirty Malaysian organisations voiced their concern...

Thirty Malaysian organisations voiced their concern over the proposal for the death penalty for child rapists tabled at the Cabinet meeting.
They feared the death penalty may decrease the reported number of child rape incidents as most of the cases were committed by a person in a position of trust and power over the child victim, making it difficult for the victim to challenge the credibility of a trusted adult. If implemented, they feared the harshness of the death penalty would deter victims and those with knowledge of rape cases from reporting.
Furthermore, the child rapist could use this knowledge to threaten or manipulate the child into silence, they said in a statement prepared by the Women's Aid Organisation, and endorsed by 29 other organisations dealing with sexual assault, rape, child sexual abuse, violence against women and human rights.
"Making a child responsible for the possible death of someone who is in a position of trust and loyalty over her is grossly unfair to her welfare and impedes her recovery by further traumatising her," it said.
These feelings of self-blame and guilt on the child may deter the child from reporting.
Therefore, the organisations said, it would be better for the Government to focus on effective prosecution of rapists, which would entail facilitating reporting, efficient investigating and evidence collecting as well as a speedy legal process.
They felt present obstacles to conviction should be addressed, including the need for physical injuries to corroborate evidence.
Accrording to the All Women's Action Society's 1999 Rape Research about 20 per cent of reported rapists were brought to court in the Federal Territory, and only half ended up in conviction.
The 30 organisations highlighted their stand to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.