Tackling this scourge was the theme of a latest United Nations occasion through the opening session of the Common Meeting, the place senior officers referred to as for motion to make sure perpetrators are held accountable. of their crimes.
“I adopted him into the home. I did not know he was going to rape me. At solely 13 years previous, Mariama (pseudonym) was sexually assaulted by a neighbor on her means dwelling from faculty: 9 months later, nonetheless a toddler herself, she turned a mom. “At 16, I’ve a daughter who is nearly a yr and a half.”
About 17% of ladies in Comoros have skilled at the very least one incident of bodily or sexual violence of their lifetime, and greater than 30% of ladies are married whereas nonetheless kids.
Most instances of violence are reported by younger women, explains Mentioned Ahamed Mentioned, from the Comoros Ministry of Well being: “Final yr, we acquired 173 stories of sexual violence, together with 162 towards younger women below the age of 17 years.
However, given social norms within the Comoros and the financial vulnerability of ladies, official figures would solely be the tip of the iceberg.
It’s thought-about taboo for a lady to report violence and, whereas she nonetheless shares the house with the person concerned, she is going to not often come ahead.
“The lady typically has no supply of revenue, and when a person divorces a girl, he now not takes care of the youngsters,” mentioned Mr. Mentioned. “There aren’t any social companies to deal with these instances, nor locations the place they’ll discover refuge.”
UNDP Comoros/James Stapley
The inhabitants of the Comoros archipelago within the Indian Ocean should adapt to local weather change.
Hear and Shield
Regardless of the challenges, the UN is dedicated to ending all types of violence towards ladies and women in Comoros.
The United Nations company for reproductive well being, UNFPAhas arrange a free phone line that victims can name for assist and knowledge on acquiring medical and authorized help, and helps the Listening and safety service for kids and girls victims of violence within the capital, Moroni.
The Service additionally gives midwifery and contraceptive companies, post-rape care and testing for sexually transmitted infections, in addition to referrals to hospitals. Since 2021, a psychologist has additionally been deployed to assist ladies and women who must maintain their households on their very own.
For the reason that Service was established some 17 years in the past, consciousness of the issue of sexual violence has grown in Comoros, Mentioned says, and girls and women usually tend to report assaults than they’re. have been earlier than it opened.
After her assault, Mariama, decided to hunt assist and search justice, acquired medical and authorized help from the middle, and employees supported her because the case progressed by the courts following the arrest of the sufferer. ‘man.
UNFPA Comoros/Melvis Kimbi
A counselor from the Listening and Safety Service for Kids and Girls Victims of Violence speaks with a sufferer of sexual violence in Moroni, the capital of the Comoros.
“Most authors are by no means held accountable”
The sense of urgency to make sure accountability for sexual violence was underscored at a latest facet occasion on the 77th UN Common Meeting, which burdened the necessity to focus before everything on the wants and rights of survivors.
“The survivor-centered strategy we promote is about listening to survivors, treating them with dignity and advocating for a response centered on their wants and needs,” mentioned UNFPA Government Director Dr. Natalia Kanem.
“Only a few have entry to justice, and most perpetrators are by no means held accountable for his or her crimes. Such impunity silences survivors and emboldens perpetrators.”
Ms. Kanem described sexual violence as a “world emergency that calls for our full dedication, collaboration and mobilization”.
“Sexual violence isn’t inevitable,” she mentioned. “There isn’t any means we will enable this to normalize.”
Ephemeral Justice
For Mariama, justice was frustratingly short-lived: her rapist was launched after serving only one yr in jail. “I at all times see it in our neighborhood, however I at all times keep away or change my route. If he tries to speak to me, I will not reply,” she mentioned.
Though she fears being attacked once more, she is defiant. “I’m now concentrating on my research: I need to develop into a lawyer.”
Mariama needs to defend herself and others, particularly her daughter. “I would like her to have the ability to defend herself higher, in addition to different younger women who can undergo any type of abuse.”