At just ten years old, while in Class Four, she endured a horrific ordeal that no child should ever face. A pastor, a figure meant to guide and protect, betrayed her trust and violated her. Seeking refuge and justice, she confided in her grandmother. Instead of receiving support, she encountered anger and disbelief. As she tried to explain her pain and find help, the whispers of the village spread like wildfire, turning her suffering into gossip.

The alleged perpetrator was arrested, but justice was not served. Shockingly, she, the survivor, was arrested as well. That night, she was forced to share a cell with the very man who had violated her. The trauma deepened. The following day, the case took a devastating turn against her. The pastor, wielding power and influence, twisted the narrative, claiming that she had seduced him. The police, instead of protecting her, hurled insults and demeaning words, discouraging her from seeking justice. They even harassed her, pressuring her to reenact the horror she had endured.

The injustice did not stop there. The pastor manipulated the system, allegedly bribing the hospital to falsify reports. Instead of acknowledging the rape, the hospital falsely claimed that she had terminated a pregnancy. Overwhelmed by the cruelty and betrayal, she fled from home, leaving behind the place that had failed to protect her. Years later, after walking with other survivors and finding strength in shared experiences, she returned home. She had come to realize that her suffering was not an isolated incident but a pattern of patriarchal abuse designed to silence women and girls. By reclaiming her voice and reconnecting with her family, she is slowly healing. Today, she stands firm in her truth. She demands accountability. She calls for an end to sexual violence by religious leaders and insists that no girl or woman should endure what she went through.

Her voice is powerful. Her story is a call to action.

Religious leaders must stop abusing their positions of power. The justice system must protect survivors, not re-traumatize them. The community must stand with survivors, not against them.

To all survivors, you are not alone. Your voice matters. We will keep amplifying your truth until justice is served.

#SRHRDialogues
Courtesy of RFSU support.(For Dialogue)