Rape incidents escalate

A study commissioned by the Botswana police service has found that incidents of rape are on the increase, news reports said. According to the study, a total of 25 police stations were visited and 1,194 cases of rape were reviewed. A national conviction rate of just over 18 percent of reported cases was found, the reports said. Among some of the findings are that just over 40 percent of all rapes and attempted rapes take place either at the victim's or suspect's home. The report added that over half of the victims of all rapes are aged between 11 and 20 years, and that 32 percent of the women aged 16 to 20 years bear the brunt of the rapes. The study said almost 44 percent of suspects are under 22 years of age and nearly 66 percent are under the age of 28.