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COTE D’IVOIRE / SEXUAL VIOLENCE
STORY: COTE D’ IVOIRE / SEXUAL VIOLENCE
TRT : 3:13
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH
DATELINE: 11 DECEMBER 2009 , ABIDJAN / BOUAKE , IVORY COAST
1. Med shot, woman at market walking
2. Med shot, several women at market walking
3. Med shot, two girls playing with dolls
4. Close up, girls hands
5. Close up, woman crying
6. Med shot, group of women sitting
7. Med shot, two women sitting and listening
8. Close up, woman’s face
9. Med shot, dolls head in child’s lap
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Laeticia Bazzi, Head of Child Protection, UNICEF:
“As a result of the political and social conflict, a cultural violence has developed, which is worsened by a weak implementation of the law. And here we have a six-year-old girl, Marie, she was raped on her way to school. And this is just the tip of the Iceberg.”
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Marie, Rape victim:
“I was five years old. I was with my girlfriend and we went to go eat at the canteen. I was on my way back home, and the man he caught me in the road. My friend left and the man said he would give me 100 francs to lay down. I laid down. He hit me. He said if I screamed he would kill me.”
12. Close up, Marie’s family member
13. Tilt down, UNICEF sexual violence poster
14. SOUNDBITE (French) Madame Fadiga, Ministry of Family and Social Affairs:
“After the victim has been seen by the doctor and the other health works, UNICEF and others. We go to the victim, to listen to her. Because listening to the victim, letting her speak, it is very, very important.”
15. Close up, Fadiga listening
16. Close up, woman crying and speaking to counselor
17. SOUNDBITE (French) Madame Fadiga, Ministry of Family and Social Affairs:
“Less and less is the subject taboo. And the victims themselves are no longer rejected, are no longer alone. It is talked about. And there are families even who go to the appropriate establishments, to denounce what has happened.”
18. Med shot, men walking and discussing
19. Med shot, women and children standing under hut
20. Med shot, older women sitting against wall
21. Close up, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)tools in woman’s hands
22. Close up, FGM tools in woman’s hands
23. Med shot, UNICEF Country Representative standing at desk writing
24. SOUNDBITE (English) Maarit Hirvonen, UNICEF Representative:
“These are very difficult issues, and any improvement that we can make takes a lot of work and a lot of time. We are working here in UNICEF with the communities, with social workers and trying to change behaviour, attitude, and reinforce the application of the law. We work with legislators and judiciary.”
25. Wide shot, girl sliding down slide on playground
While Cote d'Ivoire is steadily working towards sustainable peace, many children continue to be victims of rape and other forms of gender-based violence. 25 percent of girls and women between ten and 49 years have been victims of sexual violence at least once in their life-time. Between 2007 and 2008, the number of reported and assisted cases of such violence increased by 149 percent in UNICEF intervention areas.
SOUNDBITE (English) Laeticia Bazzi, Head of Child Protection, UNICEF:
“As a result of the political and social conflict, a cultural violence has developed, which is worsened by a weak implementation of the law. And here we have a six-year-old girl, Marie, she was raped on her way to school. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
SOUNDBITE (French) Marie, Rape victim:
“I was five years old. I was with my girlfriend and we went to go eat at the canteen. I was on my way back home, and the man he caught me in the road. My friend left and the man said he would give me 100 francs to lay down. I laid down. He hit me. He said if I screamed he would kill me.”
Marie’s parents were fortunately aware of the life-saving steps to take when confronted with the rape of their daughter. The provision by UNICEF and partners of access to medical and psychosocial care through the development of referral pathways has improved.
SOUNDBITE (French) Madame Fadiga, Ministry of Family and Social Affairs:
“After the victim has been seen by the doctor and the other health works, UNICEF and others. We go to the victim, to listen to her. Because listening to the victim, letting her speak, it is very, very important.”
Community mobilization and sensitization campaigns urging individuals to speak out against sexual violence of all forms have increased the number of people reporting cases to authorities.”
SOUNDBITE (French) Madame Fadiga, Ministry of Family and Social Affairs:
“Less and less is the subject taboo. And the victims themselves are no longer rejected, are no longer alone. It is talked about. And there are families even who go to the appropriate establishments, to denounce what has happened.”
Despite the redeployment of the magistrates and lawyers in their working areas of origin completed earlier this year, Law enforcement is still weak and perpetrators of sexual violence and Female Genital Mutilation are too rarely denounced or taken to trial.
SOUNDBITE (English) Maarit Hirvonen, UNICEF Representative:
“These are very difficult issues, and any improvement that we can make takes a lot of work and a lot of time. We are working here in UNICEF with the communities, with social workers and trying to change behaviour, attitude, and reinforce the application of the law. We work with legislators and judiciary.”
As Cote d'Ivoire continues to move forward in restoring law and order, there is hope that the country’s children will be able to live and play without fear of violence.
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