Support to survivors of gender-based violence, a necessity to help them move forward

* Marie’s life was turned upside down at the age of 13 when her father, the person who is supposed to protect her from harm, sexually abused her.

Having lost her mother years earlier, Marie lived with her father in a camp for displaced persons in Tchidji in Bambari. Never had she imagined that her dear father would commit such a horrible act.

“Two months ago, while sleeping on my mattress, my father jumped on me and laid his body on top of mine. I fought so hard, of course, but then I found no other way out but to scream for help from the top of my lungs. The neighbors came and took me to the site coordinator,” she says, feeling embarrassed.

Early the next morning, the site coordinator took her to the hospital to get the proper treatment and tests.

“The doctors ran so many tests, and I was worried. They have me some medicines but luckily I had no severe physical harm,” adds Marie.

After the visit to the hospital, the UNICEF protection team and those of Esperance, our implementing partner, intervened to support Marie and placed her temporarily with in a host family.

“Marie couldn’t return to the camp where she lived because the story spread, and everyone was aware of what happened to her. Kids were mocking and stigmatizing her. That’s why we agreed that the best solution for her was to be placed temporarily with a host family. We visit her regularly and we provide her with psychological support to help her overcome the trauma,” explains Tangy, the GBV assistant in charge of Marie’s case.

With the financial support of ECHO, UNICEF works towards strengthening the child protection mechanisms in the communities to prevent GBV and provide a holistic response to children survivors of sexual violence and GBV, including survivors of abuse and exploitation.

Following the psychosocial support that she received, Marie wants to turn the page as she is surrounded by the care of the host family, especially “Maman Toutou”, as she calls her, her host mother. Marie now feels much better and as a result of going to school, she often plays football with “her four new sisters.”

However, she is eager to join her older sister who lives in a village 35 kilometers away from Bambari. “From my side, I think I am ready, I think I have moved on, but Tangy thinks I should wait a little bit more time. I want to be with my sister, turn this page over and begin a career in trade,” shares Marie.

“Before heading back and living with her sister, it is important that Maria completes her psychosocial support sessions so she could get rid of the negative thoughts once and for all,” explains Tangy.

The names in this story are changed for protection reasons