Words of survivors

Words of survivors

Hear them

express yourself.

#NoRape #ForcedMarriage #MaritalViolence …

Here you will find:

Written testimonies
Videos testimonies

Discover their stories

All
Mali
Central African Republic
Senegal
Nigeria
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Niger
Chad

“They hold me by the feet and arms. They take turns raping me. I’m screaming, it hurts, no one can hear me … I just got raped in the country that was supposed to protect me…”

Niger

“He asked me for a second bag. When I entered the house to get some, he followed me into the house. He pushed me onto the couch and took off my pants and then raped me…”

Cameroon

“They raped us, me in my children’s presence. I felt dirty, I was angry with myself…”

Burkina Faso

“I thought nothing worse could happen to me, until my uncle told me I had an obligation to marry my rapist’s father.”

Senegal

“One day, while going to do laundry by a water source, an unknown gunman followed me. In the bush when I was alone, he grabbed me by force and raped me…”

Central African Republic

“I was abducted by an armed group and I was detained. During this time, I was raped but I don’t know my attacker…”

Mali

“Everything was going well at the initial stage of our relationship. The man disappeared when I was 7 months pregnant…”

Nigeria

“My father decided to give me in marriage to a trader. Every night he hits me and has forced sex with me…”

Burkina Faso

“My daughter and I were welcomed and hosted by a compatriot. One night, he sexually abused me and I found myself pregnant…”

Cameroon

“He would beat me with his fists, a stick and slap me on the face, and ask a lover of his to beat me with fists as well…”

Cameroon

“During the rape incident, I also witnessed the killing of my father…”

Cameroon

“I am a single parent who engages in survival sex to gain shelter and food…”

Cameroon

“Over time, I realized that the marabout1 had sexually abused me on several occasions…”

Chad

“2 years ago, a neighbor asked my mother for my hand and gave a dowry. The imam married us … “

Mali

“My husband continued to torment me and threatened to take my children and kill me. Life was not easy and it was by God’s grace that I survived …”

Mali

“I tried to stand up and noticed blood flowing between my thighs. I started screaming with all my might…”

Central African Republic

Videos testimonies

ABOUT GBV WEST AFRICA EXPOSED

The following testimonies were shared by refugees, internally displaced persons and other persons of concern to UNHCR across the West and Central Africa Region. All stories were collected with their informed consent. Their first names as well as their country of origin have been changed. The photos are illustrative.