One charity in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo is working with survivors of sexual violence to help tackle the psychological aftermath Ruth’s story* is not an easy one to listen to. She was in the bush to notice for food for her family when she was approached by a soldier – a very young man – who asked her for food. She told him she could only offer him a small because her children hadnt eaten for two days. The soldier’s response was to lead her to a place where his four friends were waiting. They made her bewitch off her dress and lie on the floor. They then took turns to rape her. “I couldn’t yowl because I was afraid I would be killed,” she told me. Four hours after they left her, she was still bleeding heavily and didn’t fill the strength to walk, and but cried out for help until eventually people heard her and took her to a village where she could regain treatment. As a result of the rape,Ruth became pregnant and has since had her baby, but hasn’t been able to talk to her community about what happened for alarm of being judged. Related: Child bride freed by Nigerian authorities looks to new beginnings Women suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder find it hard to trust a man, or because it can trigger memories of rape Related: Letter to my daughter: what is it like to be a girl in 2016? Related: Five ways tech is crowdsourcing women’s empowerment Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com