Amina, aged 13, lives with her mother, Mariam, and her older sister in a neighbourhood of Bossangoa. A primary-school pupil, she divided her daily life between school, family activities and age-appropriate household tasks. Her mother kept a close watch over her movements, and Amina lived in a caring family environment.
Like many families in the area, however, the household lived in a context of limited resources, close relationships among neighbours and protection services that remained difficult to access. Trust in familiar adults in the community could create a sense of safety even when certain risks remained hidden. Nothing in the family’s ordinary relations with its neighbours suggested the crisis that was about to affect them.
The problem: a serious protection violation and an ongoing threat
One day, while Amina was taking food to an adult neighbour known to the family, he allegedly drew her inside his home and subjected her to sexual violence. Concerned by her daughter’s prolonged absence, Mariam went to look for her. Her arrival, together with the rapid intervention of community members, brought the incident to an end and enabled the child to receive care without delay.
Beyond the assault, the family faced several threats: the trauma experienced by the child, her mother’s distress, the risk of stigma, possible disruption to Amina’s education and fear associated with the alleged perpetrator’s presence in the community. He was reportedly arrested but subsequently escaped from the custody of the authorities. This heightened the family’s sense of insecurity and made coordinated follow-up essential.
The alleged perpetrator bears full and exclusive responsibility for the violence inflicted on Amina. Her mother acted promptly upon noticing her daughter’s prolonged absence and could not reasonably have foreseen the actions of an adult known to the family.
A coordinated response centred on the child and her family
Immediate healthcare and rapid referral
Mariam took Amina to MSF, where she received urgent medical care, medication, information to support continuity of care and medical documentation. MSF then referred the family to the psychosocial service of SOS Children’s Villages in Bossangoa so that support could continue beyond the immediate medical emergency.
Survivor-centred psychosocial support
At SOS, a female psychosocial worker welcomed Amina and her mother into a safe listening space. The session helped them recognise their fear, sadness and anxiety as understandable reactions to a serious event, while clearly reassuring Amina that she was neither to blame nor alone. Confidentiality, consent and the best interests of the child guided the support provided.
The support included:
• compassionate listening and emotional stabilisation, without requiring the child to repeat her account unnecessarily;
• age-appropriate information about possible reactions following violence and the services available;
• support to Mariam so that she could reassure her daughter, strengthen her safety and avoid any blaming response;
• reminders about the importance of taking the prescribed treatment and attending medical follow-up;
• preparation for a gradual and safe return to school, guided by the child’s wishes and pace;
• planning follow-up home visits and referrals to competent services according to identified needs.
Mobilising the family, community and partners
The mother played a decisive role: she searched for her daughter, alerted neighbours, sought care promptly and participated actively in the support sessions. Community members intervened during the incident. Over time, RECOPE and the community mechanisms supported by the project can contribute to vigilance, safe referral and follow-up, with strict respect for confidentiality.
This response illustrates the complementarity sought in the area: MSF provided immediate medical care; SOS delivered psychosocial support, family follow-up and case management; community structures supported identification and referral; and competent services addressed protection and justice considerations. Coordination among these actors is essential to prevent gaps in care and to avoid exposing the child to repeated retelling or unsafe procedures.
Resolution and current status
In the days that followed, Amina gradually regained a sense of safety. She reported feeling better and expressed her own wish to return to school. With support from SOS, Mariam strengthened her listening and attentive care and made arrangements to accompany her daughter when classes resumed, if needed. “I feel better and I want to return to school.” said Amina, aged 13. The planned return to school is an important sign of recovery and of the child regaining a measure of control over her daily life.
The situation cannot, however, be considered fully resolved. According to the information available, the alleged perpetrator is no longer in the custody of the authorities; the protection risk therefore remains and requires continued vigilance. Medical and psychosocial follow-up, confidentiality, prevention of stigma, safe movement and coordination with competent services remain priorities.
The most important change is that Amina and her mother no longer face the situation alone. They know which services they can approach, have access to support and have begun rebuilding a protective routine. Continued follow-up aims to sustain Amina’s well-being, safety, education and agency, without reducing her identity to the violence she experienced.
“The advice and guidance I received helped me better understand my daughter’s reactions and support her with greater care.”, Mariam, Amina’s mother shares.
Protection lessons
This case reminds us that violence against children may be committed by people they know and that prevention cannot rest on parental vigilance alone. It requires accessible community mechanisms, health and psychosocial services capable of responding quickly, safe referral pathways and an effective response from competent authorities. Livelihood and food-security assistance complement this response by reducing vulnerabilities that place families under strain and increase children’s exposure to risk.