Stigmatisation of survivors
Unlike any other crime, when a person is raped the disgrace of the crime shifts from the perpetrator to the victim. This often constitutes an unsolvable dilemma for women and girls. Remaining silent about the crime saves them from being stigmatised in their society but at the same time contributes to the fact that they are denied compensation, a little piece of justice and being able to see the perpetrator being excluded and punished. There are many reasons to remain silent about the crime: the fact that speaking about the crime is taboo, lack of support, exclusion or even threats from family and society. For that reason, women often have a lifelong cross to bear with their emotional and physical injuries. And this in a situation where social structures have been destroyed, poverty is prevalent and there is insufficient medical care.
