Eva’s rape perpetrators and abductors still enjoy impunity

Al Akhbar newspaper published a report on the case of young child Eva G. reminding the public of her plight and of the fact that the perpetrators have yet to pay for their crime.  The reported coincided with Eva’s hearing today in the presence of the Ministry of Justice Juvenile Department representative whereby she was asked to narrate her experience of living with her family after spending time with her abductors.  The case will then be heard by the juvenile judge.
The report reiterates that the perpetrators have not been investigated yet for the charges of abduction and rape as, according to the newspaper, the judiciary needs handholding to perform its duty.  In addition, the law enforcement which was empowered with special prerogatives to arrest the perpetrators did not take any action to that effect.  Law enforcement indicates that they have failed to arrest the perpetrators because they are “absent”.  Eva’s family contests this and advises law enforcement to ask the neighbors of the perpetrators for their whereabouts.  
Lawyer Manar Zeaiter told Al Akhbar that several legal issues make the judiciary directly responsible for that matter.  These include the age of marriage since Lebanon is a signatory to the child rights charter which stipulates children’s age range up till 18 years as well as the special clause regarding marriage of children.  The other issue according to Zeaiter is the fact that the marriage was not contracted by the religious court and, last but not least, the fact that the child was raped during 12 days of captivities.
Source: Al-Akhbar 5 December 2013