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BURUNDI :: Assisting victims of sexual violence in Burundi Needs related to sexual violence in Burundi are not only medical, but also psychological and social. To meet these needs, Médecins Sans Frontières opened a health center for women (CSF) in the capital city of Bujumbura last September. Opening such a project was not easy in a country where the term “rape” itself does not exist in the local language. After 10 months of activity, reality shows that victims of sexual violence are in great need for assistance. “The number of patients has increased. At present, we have between 120 and 150 new cases each month”, says Emma Frovenholt, Médecins Sans Frontières doctor at the CSF. “Recent increase concerns particularly children. In fact, half of the victims are under 18 and small children are not spared”, Emma continues. The CSF is set up in the center of Bujumbura, beside the bus stop and the market. This location makes it possible for patients to come to the center without attracting attention. In order to avoid any sort of stigmatisation, the Centre receives victims of rape, but also people who think they have developed a sexually transmitted disease or infection, as well as those interested in family planning. A part of the victims have suffered from sexual violence directly related to war, whereby armed men, soldiers or bandits, take advantage of the wartime context which persists in Burundi to commit sexual assaults. But according to Emmanuelle Delmarquette, who works as a psychologist at the Médecins Sans Frontières Center, “half of the victims have been subjected to sexual acts violently committed by civilians. Some 50 % of these civil aggressors are known by their victims.” Medical consequences of rape may be (gynecological) wounds, HIV-AIDS contamination or other sexually transmitted infections such as hepatitis B, or unwanted pregnancy. The means of taking care of the patient will differ depending on the lapse of time which has passed between the moment of the rape and the arrival at the Centre. The medical follow-up covers a period of 6 months during which Médecins Sans Frontières is following-up the general condition of the patients and their medication. Victims of rape are also being assisted at a psychological and social level. This is done by ensuring confidentiality. The CSF is a protected environment in which one can speak freely. In a country where poverty is a very common scourge, rape is an aggravating factor, the female victim being rejected by her husband and her family. “Our social worker evaluates each individual situation, the personal resources of the victim, as well as future needs”, explains Emmanuelle. “Following this analysis, we will look for solutions within the associative, local community and NGO network.” The social worker also directs the person who wants to make a formal complaint to the appropriate authorities. Although more and more victims - or their entourage - would like to start the proceedings of a lawsuit, these procedures are very heavy and very few complaints succeed. Resistance remains strong and proving rape is extremely difficult. “We are aware that not all victims are able to come to us. That is why we focus also on awareness raising on sexual abuse.”, concludes Fabienne de Leval, Médecins Sans Frontières reference person for the sexual gender based violence issue. ”Through this project and specific information activities, we convey our main message: it is forbidden to touch anyone without their consent, regardless of their age and gender. Although there is still much to do and to improve, in Burundi, the silence at least has been broken.” Gilles Van Moortel » Read an article on Sexual violence
as a weapon of war
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