Breaking the Silence to Seek Justice

In Burundi, Child Protection Committees play a critical role in identifying children at risk, referring them and their families to appropriate services, and accompanying them on the path towards protection, justice and recovery. The story of *Marie Rose and *Consolée illustrates how community engagement can transform the lives of children who have survived violence.

One Sunday morning, while on her way to church, Marie Rose was urgently contacted by the hill chief and a community health worker, who informed her that several girls had been sexually abused. As Chairperson of her local Child Protection Committee, she knew that immediate action was essential.

Training delivered through the UMWIZERO project, implemented by Terre des Hommes with funding from the German National Committee for UNICEF, equipped Marie Rose and the other committee members with the knowledge and skills required to respond more effectively to child protection cases.

“Through these training sessions, our committee members acquired the knowledge and skills needed to identify, support and refer child protection cases within our community. Today, we can respond much more effectively to situations of violence,” Marie Rose explains.

The impact of this strengthened community response was particularly evident in the case of Consolée, whose two daughters, aged 11 and 7, were subjected to sexual violence.

As soon as the abuse was disclosed, Consolée contacted the community health worker, the local authorities and the Chairperson of the Child Protection Committee. The children were promptly referred to a health facility, where they received medical care and underwent examinations that documented the abuse and supported the initiation of judicial proceedings.

Soon afterward, however, the family faced intimidation and pressure from members of the community who attempted to discredit the children’s testimony.

In response, Marie Rose referred Consolée and her daughters to Terre des Hommes for specialized support.

“The support provided by Terre des Hommes was decisive. The compassionate way in which they listened to my daughters and our family marked the first step in our recovery. They also provided legal assistance, including a lawyer dedicated to defending my daughters’ rights,” Consolée says.

In addition to legal assistance, the team provided comprehensive case management, including psychosocial support, accompaniment during court hearings, coverage of medical and transportation costs, and assistance with the family’s essential needs. This integrated support enabled the children and their mother to continue pursuing justice despite the considerable pressure they faced.

At the end of the trial, the perpetrator was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.

For Consolée, the verdict meant far more than a conviction.

“The psychosocial support my daughters received became the foundation of their recovery. Without the unwavering support of Terre des Hommes, I fear the outcome could have been tragic,” she says.

For Marie Rose, the case also marked a turning point for the wider community.

“This case profoundly changed our community. It showed that sexual violence against children would no longer go unpunished. People now understand that such crimes can be prosecuted and lead to a conviction,” she says.

The experiences of Marie Rose and Consolée demonstrate that strengthened Child Protection Committees are better equipped to protect vulnerable children and restore families’ confidence in child protection systems. The case also helped restore confidence among other community members who had faced similar situations. “We realized that we were no longer alone,” several of them said.

With funding from the German National Committee for UNICEF, the UMWIZERO project is helping Child Protection Committees ensure that child survivors of violence are no longer left to face these experiences alone, but are accompanied on their path towards protection, justice and recovery.

*Names have been changed to protect the identities of the children and their families.