Often ignored, sometimes treated with discretion, sexual violence remains a sensitive issue in the Central African Republic. Although thousands of women have been victims of physical, psychological, and social trauma, their suffering remains largely silent.

Some women were raped by soldiers from neighbouring armies; others were attacked by rebels or national soldiers in conflict areas. Many are everyday victims of a society disrupted by years of conflict. Adding to their personal and physical burdens, CAR’s victims of sexual violence are often denied justice and face rejection from their community.

In order to break their isolation, the Organization for Compassion and Development for Families in Distress (OCODEFAD) has developed extensive networks of victims, group workshops and income generating activities. Since its creation in 2003, it has opened nineteen branches and gathered more than 2,000 testimonies from women and men across the country. “We have decided to stop victim registrations, simply because we cannot provide them with assistance” explains Bernadette Sayo, Founder of the NGO, “but there are many more victims”.

With the support of the International Federation for Human Rights, the OCODEFAD trains victims of sexual violence to collect testimonies. “They are in the best position to meet other victims. Only they can understand the pain and the humiliation, especially in male rape cases.” With the help of two doctors, one psychiatrist, three lawyers, several priests, and numerous volunteers, OCODEFAD helps victims put words to their unspeakable experiences.

Impunity

For Bernadette Sayo, impunity is one of the major causes of rapes in the country. “Rape is one of the hardest cases to document before a court. It is very difficult to obtain tangible proof other than testimonies. And how can one testify when she or he knows she or he won’t be protected from his or her aggressor after the trial?” But Justice is the only way forward. Without it, and because they are stigmatized, victims often live in perpetual guilt. Wives, for example, are often repudiated by their husbands after they have been raped.

With the opening of a preliminary International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation of the crimes committed in 2002/2003, OCODEFAD can finally oversee the recognition of these victims’ suffering.

For more information:

Erik Kpakpo
O.CO.DE.FA.D.
Bangui
Kpakpomakassy05@yahoo.fr | +236 75 20 41 46

Read more on the ICC decision to launch investigations in CAR