In the Ouham Prefecture, the most affected region by conflicts in Central African Republic, we work to enhance child protection and support GBV in building a brighter future.
In the Central African Republic (CAR), gender-based violence (GBV) has recently reached alarming levels, particularly because of the crisis that the country has been experiencing for the last decade. Despite the existence of legislation on the subject, the prevalence of socio-cultural norms that are unfavourable to women and girls exacerbates this situation. Violence against civilians and insecurity, particularly in localities outside urban centres, continue to increase the vulnerability of several people, especially women, who see their livelihoods eroded, and their access to food and basic services such as healthcare and water drastically limited. According to the HRP 2023, 46% of GBV cases reported in 2022 were motivated by food shortages.
According to the HRP 2023, 46% of GBV cases reported in 2022 were motivated by food shortages.
Lana is a single mother, 19 year-old, resident of Béa (45km from Bossangoa) head of household, who used to run a small business near to the mine Houmi mining, located 20km from her home. In May 2023, during an attack at her work place, elements of a non-state armed group abducted her. She was taken into captive and abused.
“To support my family, I used to run a small doughnut business at the Houmi mining site in a forest. I stayed at the mine until selling all doughnuts. Sometimes I spent a week there, as the doughnuts had to be sold. One night, a group of men of a non-state army violently attacked the entry mine. People were desperate and dispersed. I was petrified, and did not have time to escape. They captured me and I spent three weeks in captivity, during which they raped me several times.”
Fortunately, in a Friday night, while all the group slept, Lana managed to escape and returned to her village. However, the marks of this traumatic experience followed her: “Even though I am at home, I am obsessed with the kidnapping. I am mentally reliving the scenes and I feel guilty for being at the mine during the attack. During captivity, I was threatened with death if I tried to flee”.
Lana suffered from insomnia and abdominal pains. She struggled to support her child, as she lost her source of income during this terrible event. Besides, the judgement of some community members made the situation even more painful: “some people think that I caused the rape. They say I could have prevented it. In my pain, a member of JF-CPiE referred me.”
The Joining Forces for Child Protection in Emergency project in Bossangoa, closely works with the RECOPE (Réseau Communautaire pour la Protection de l’enfant), which is a community network for child protection established by the organisation in collaboration with the Regional Directorate of Social Affairs.
As soon as Lana joined the JF-CPiE project, she received psychosocial and psycho-emotional support services. Through a clinical interview (part of the case management process), community workers assessed her immediate needs, which resulted in a consensual action plan. At the listening centre, the project psychologist provided her comfort and emotional support, aiming to reducing psychological distress. Following that, the young woman was referred to Médecins sans frontières (MSF) hospital in Tongolo for medical care. She received medical consultation and a prophylactic treatment, including vaccines such as hepatitis B and anti-tetanus. She was healed from abdominal pains, and continues the treatment with MSF.
Additionally, JF-CPiE has referred the survivor to the police and judicial authorities. The team entreated legal and judicial aspects of her case to the Regional Department of Social Affairs. The project offered her cash to resume her income-generating activity, improving social and psychological rehabilitation.
“It is a new beginning for me. I restated my business, but, instead of going back to the mine, I sell my doughnuts at the market of my village. I continue the medical treatment and all the pains I felt went away. The psychosocial support and follow up sessions help me to overcome fear and regain confidence”, says Lana. Also, her little son, 3 years old, often goes to one of the five child-friendly spaces we have established in the region where s he has a safe environment to play and interact with other children.
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 | This publication was produced with the financial support of the German Humanitarian Assistance Its contents are the sole responsibility of Joining Forces and do not necessarily reflect the views of the German Humanitarian Assistance. |