While at home in Cameroon, whenever I requested some money to feed my children from my partner, he would beat me with his fists, a stick and slap me on the face, and ask a lover of his to beat me up as well, which she often did
I would sustain bruises and become socially withdrawn for several days following each incident.
Some years later he abandoned me and never returned. Following my abandonment, I struggled to feed my children, leading the children Nana and Lembi to pass away from illness in Yaounde in October and November 2019 respectively.
1. Rape: vaginal, anal or oral penetration without consent (even superficial), using the penis or another part of the body. Also applies to inserting an object into the vagina or anus.
2. Sexual assault: any form of sexual contact without consent that does not lead to or is not based on an act of penetration. Among other examples: attempted rape, as well as unwanted kissing, fondling and touching the genitals or buttocks. FGM is an act of violence that damages the sexual organs; they should therefore be classified as sexual assault. This type of incident does not include rape (which consists of an act of penetration).
3. It is considered that in the WCA region, 1 in 3 women have been sexually assaulted, and 1 in 5 raped.