Gender-based violence (GBV) affects over one in five women worldwide, and at times of crisis, those figures grow even more.
The most widespread violation of human rights, gender-based violence (GBV), is not normal or inevitable and needs to be stopped.
secudy.com contacted one of the female victims who asked that her name be suppressed for security reasons to stop violence against girls and women.
The victim in Bauchi, Nigeria, suffered for at least four years before fleeing her abusive boyfriend. They have two wonderful children.
Here are a couple of her assertions:
“When I was expecting our second child, he grabbed me by the hair and threw me to the ground. All I could remember is that it happened at 5 o’clock, pm, but I was unaware of what transpired after that; all I knew was that I saw myself being roused from the floor at 7 pm, all by myself in the house, it became clear to me that I had collapsed.
“Fast forward, there was a day he came asking me some questions I know nothing about. I remained silent to avoid an argument because I was afraid of what he would do to me, but all efforts prove abortive, I was so convinced that he would kill me because of what he had said to me that day.
Do you believe that you are alive? Look in the mirror; you are already dead. Since you are in my hands right now, nothing will stop me from killing you. I will kill you and nothing will happen” Haven’t I frustrated you enough to leave my house?
“He then locked the doors and put all the house keys in his pocket before coming straight for me. I struggled to get away, but by the time I did, he had both of his hands around my neck and was trying to strangle me to death. I kept screaming and calling out for God to save me, and I eventually managed to escape in pain with red marks on my neck. That was how I escaped from his home and made my way to my father’s home with my two children”.
My parents took me to the hospital where I was admitted and received treatment for three weeks because when I arrived at my father’s house, I seemed thin and ill and appeared to be moving and speaking with my last strength.
She claims that initially, she was hesitant to report the crime at a local police station out of concern for his possible reaction and the stigma associated with such crimes in today’s culture. She then made her way to her parent’s house with the two kids.
Although leaving was difficult, the victim is now totally fit and has even landed a job with the State Government thanks to parental encouragement and a place to rehabilitate.
What words of wisdom do you have for such a person?
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