Child Sexual Assault in Rwanda: the Plight of Adolescent Girls

1. Child Sexual Assault in Rwanda: the Plight of Adolescent Girls Presented by Brigitte Mukashema International Justice Mission, Rwanda National Conference on Violence Against Children – Kigali – 3-4 October 2011

2. The Work of IJM in Rwanda Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Project Goal: “To protect children in Kigali City from violent forces of injustice by securing rescue and restoration for CSA victims and ensuring that perpetrators of CSA are held accountable under the law of Rwanda.”

3. Sexual abuse definition • The use of power, manipulation and control to force another person to be involved in sexual activities. • Includes forced sexual intercourse: vaginal, oral, or anal penetration. • Trapping, forcing, deceiving, or coercing an individual into sexually stimulating activities that benefit the perpetrator (eg. Unwanted touching , pornographic movies, kissing, etc)

4. Who is vulnerable to sexual abuse? • Both boys and girls • Disabled or persons with special needs • Orphans • Neglected children: Those without adults available to protect them • Those in poverty • Anyone

5. Why are adolescent girls the main victims of sexual violence? • Power and control of the perpetrator • These girls are viewed as “grasshoppers” that are developing physically and need an older man to “teach” them about sex. • Virginity: “sexually sweet” • Young women are more easily accessible • Poverty: young women believing that the Sugar Daddy’s will alleviate their economic situation

6. Reasons perpetrators abuse: • Desire for power • Mental health difficulties • Past trauma • Drug or alcohol abuse • Ignorance • Seeking satisfaction • A weapon of war • Seeking vengeance or revenge • Curiosity

7. Who are the perpetrators/abusers? • Biological parents • Family members: cousins, older siblings uncles, neighbors, boyfriends • IJM case work has indicated perpetrators are almost always a person that the child and family knows. It is not a stranger.

8. How do abusers operate? • Groom the victim over a period of time • Use power to intimidate thegirl • Use a culture of secrecy • Control • Bribery • Create dependency • Psychological manipulation • Manipulate situations to lure young girls in • Use opportunity (eg. Lunch dates, parties)

9. Categories of vulnerable victims in this age group • Poor girls enticed with gifts by sugar daddies • Orphans staying with relatives • Street children • Unsupervised children left alone with houseboys • Young house girls abused by a male in the house • Students abused by their teachers • Child laborers

10. Consequences for Victims – Short Term Psychological and Social: • Poor attachment and social relationships • Heightened anxiety • Sensitivity to certain stimuli, especially smells and sounds that are reminders of the abuse • Hyper-vigilance • Attempts to run away • Poor attention and performance in school

11. Consequences for Victims – Long Term Psychological & Behavioural: • Poor attachment and social relationships • Depression or anxiety disorders • Drug or alcohol abuse • Trauma/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder • Aggression or violence towards others • Risky sexual behaviours and promiscuity • HIV/Aids, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy

12. IJM Treatment Model • Needs Assessment with Clients • Development of client safety plans • Development of individual treatment plans • Provide support to family throughout legal process • Medical assistance • Counseling: TF-CBT for survivors • Economic rehabilitation • Working with partners to provide other assistance needed which IJM can not provide

13. Challenges & Responses CHALLENGE: Religious organizations & community leaders often encourage believers not to report and to settle matters privately RESPONSE: Break cycle of silence on CSA; Systematically train and sensitize communities on CSA and parenting; reinforce system of reporting. CHALLENGE: Improper & insensitive techniques of interviewing victims of CSA RESPONSE: Forensic Interviewing training; Child sensitive interviewing; Children must be heard in legal proceedings. CHALLENGE: Lack of follow-up with victims and their communities RESPONSE: Facilitate reintegration of victims into families and communities through sensitization.

14. Challenges & Responses • CHALLENGE: Cultural norms: • Sexual violence is a private matter • Stigmatization • Underreporting RESPONSE: Gender Based Violence Training • CHALLENGE: Lack of safe placement for protection and healing of victims RESPONSE: Create temporary safe home for victims of sexual abuse and empowering those existing facilities

15. How to Help 7 steps are very important: • Learn the facts and understand the risks • Minimize opportunity • Talk about it • Stay alert • Make a plan • Act on suspicions • Get involved.

16. THANK YOU, MERCI, MURAKOZE!