Six out of 10 women raped â€" UNICEF
Jun 26, 2005
A UNICEF commissioned study on sexual and gender-based violence reveals rape and child sexual abuse has become ‘normal’ in Pabbo IDP Camp.
A UNICEF commissioned study on sexual and gender-based violence reveals rape and child sexual abuse has become ‘normal’ in Pabbo IDP Camp.
It is the biggest camp in the north with over 67, 000 people (48,000 women and children). The study revealed six out of 10 women have suffered, 70% of girls below 18 are victims. But only five rape cases and 78 defilement cases were reported to Pabbo police post between April and August 2004.
“There is fear to report these cases because of stigmatisation by the community. Distrust of authorities and harsh investigations leave the victim with no private life. ignorance of reporting procedures and costs involved are also a hurdle for the women who want justice,†Isabella Amony, a researcher, said.
The study was done in in September 2004. Its report was launched at Gulu Support the Children Organisation centre this month.
The report suffering in silence revealed sexual violence has physically, mentally and emotionally traumatised thousands of children and women, like 60-year-old Christine.
It was on the Easter weekend this year. The night was pitch dark, it threatened to rain. She alarmed when the rapist pounced on her.
By the time her neighbours gained courage to come to her rescue, the man, an ex-UPDF soldier, had escaped.
Christine now bleeds constantly and her lower abdomen hurts terribly. Bits from her tattered blanket can’t pad away the heavy blood flow.
She can’t walk even to the nearby villages to dig, so she spends days without food. Her name is not on the list for relief food.
The man is on remand in Gulu prison. When his trial comes, he might go scot-free because Christine cannot afford to travel to testify against him.
For Santa, her world is filled with torment and uncertainty. One night in June 2004, a man ripped her polythene sack door off.
He pulled her out, slicing the skin on her neck with a panga when she resisted. The man, an ex-UPDF soldier, raped her in a nearby swamp.
“We collected money to take him to Gulu. I didn’t have money to travel to testify against him. I avoided sex with my husband. I wanted to go for an HIV test, but had no money. We considered using condoms, but they were not available, so we had unprotected sex. We want to know our status,†she says.
Santa says back home, a rapist would be severely punished. She has lost hope of returning home after the 19-year-old war. Dr Charles Engenye, a Gulu Hospital gynaecologist, said many rapists are HIV/AIDS positive.
“We should administer post exposure prophylaxis, where victims are screened within 24 hours and put on treatment to destroy the virus. It is cheaper than antiretrovirals,†Engenye said.
Amony said conservative figures of sexual violence are 40% for UPDF soldiers and the 60% are husbands, teachers, relatives and strangers.
Many times, women and girls are sexually abused when they go to look for firewood or food.
“Difficult living conditions force abused girls into prostitution.
Congestion, drunkenness and idleness, restricted livelihood and the culture of silence make them vulnerable to sexual abuse,†Amony said. Lack of civilian security makes people unable to protect themselves.
In Pabbo, marital rape doesn’t exist. School girls are defiled and wife-battering is high, especially when their husbands are drunk.
“Data from Pabbo police post, the health centre and the study shows girls between 13 and 17 are the most frequent survivors. Women aged 19-36 follow.
“But children aged four to nine are also victims. We are concerned that 7-13 year-old girls are the biggest survivors. Some are 4-year-olds. Violence destroys self-esteem and the ability to become a good parent,†Martin Mogwanja UNICEF country director said.
It is the biggest camp in the north with over 67, 000 people (48,000 women and children). The study revealed six out of 10 women have suffered, 70% of girls below 18 are victims. But only five rape cases and 78 defilement cases were reported to Pabbo police post between April and August 2004.
“There is fear to report these cases because of stigmatisation by the community. Distrust of authorities and harsh investigations leave the victim with no private life. ignorance of reporting procedures and costs involved are also a hurdle for the women who want justice,†Isabella Amony, a researcher, said.
The study was done in in September 2004. Its report was launched at Gulu Support the Children Organisation centre this month.
The report suffering in silence revealed sexual violence has physically, mentally and emotionally traumatised thousands of children and women, like 60-year-old Christine.
It was on the Easter weekend this year. The night was pitch dark, it threatened to rain. She alarmed when the rapist pounced on her.
By the time her neighbours gained courage to come to her rescue, the man, an ex-UPDF soldier, had escaped.
Christine now bleeds constantly and her lower abdomen hurts terribly. Bits from her tattered blanket can’t pad away the heavy blood flow.
She can’t walk even to the nearby villages to dig, so she spends days without food. Her name is not on the list for relief food.
The man is on remand in Gulu prison. When his trial comes, he might go scot-free because Christine cannot afford to travel to testify against him.
For Santa, her world is filled with torment and uncertainty. One night in June 2004, a man ripped her polythene sack door off.
He pulled her out, slicing the skin on her neck with a panga when she resisted. The man, an ex-UPDF soldier, raped her in a nearby swamp.
“We collected money to take him to Gulu. I didn’t have money to travel to testify against him. I avoided sex with my husband. I wanted to go for an HIV test, but had no money. We considered using condoms, but they were not available, so we had unprotected sex. We want to know our status,†she says.
Santa says back home, a rapist would be severely punished. She has lost hope of returning home after the 19-year-old war. Dr Charles Engenye, a Gulu Hospital gynaecologist, said many rapists are HIV/AIDS positive.
“We should administer post exposure prophylaxis, where victims are screened within 24 hours and put on treatment to destroy the virus. It is cheaper than antiretrovirals,†Engenye said.
Amony said conservative figures of sexual violence are 40% for UPDF soldiers and the 60% are husbands, teachers, relatives and strangers.
Many times, women and girls are sexually abused when they go to look for firewood or food.
“Difficult living conditions force abused girls into prostitution.
Congestion, drunkenness and idleness, restricted livelihood and the culture of silence make them vulnerable to sexual abuse,†Amony said. Lack of civilian security makes people unable to protect themselves.
In Pabbo, marital rape doesn’t exist. School girls are defiled and wife-battering is high, especially when their husbands are drunk.
“Data from Pabbo police post, the health centre and the study shows girls between 13 and 17 are the most frequent survivors. Women aged 19-36 follow.
“But children aged four to nine are also victims. We are concerned that 7-13 year-old girls are the biggest survivors. Some are 4-year-olds. Violence destroys self-esteem and the ability to become a good parent,†Martin Mogwanja UNICEF country director said.