The Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Minster for Social Development and Child Welfare says her ministry recorded 16 rape cases last year. She said rape cases could be avoided through good parental care.

The minister blamed lack of responsibility in some families as leading to rape cases within the community. But she also said her ministry is going to deal with criminals that commit rapes.

“You make a decision to commit the crime with innocent girl I want to tell you we are here as the Ministry of Social Development and Welfare to deal with you because we have received many causes last year in 2014 and took them all to the judge courts for finding.”

“They are about 16 rape cause which were brought to my attentions in the ministry,” said the Minister Ajak Michael Akok.

A parent, Aguot Manot, admitted that it was hard for women to stay with their children as many of them have to go in search of food as their husbands may be jobless. She says kids are left alone at home and consequently are at risk of attack.