A Bolivian mother participates in a rally to raise awareness of sexual violence.

It is still possible to see the pain in the woman’s face when she remembers the sexual assault she suffered, but when she finishes telling her story, a shy look full of courage appears at the corners of her eyes. “Being a victim is hard, because society judges us without thinking about the physical and psychological damages resulting from these incidents,” says Julia (not her real name), a 25-year-old Bolivian woman. “Institutions must respond better to these cases and not go over the case time and time again until the victim becomes tired and leaves.”

Julia is one of many women who, after surviving a sexual assault, faced a future of social rejection and a status as a victim. When she heard that someone was organizing a local workshop on the rights of sexual violence victims, she did not hesitate to attend. There, Julia heard that her case was, unfortunately, very common, not only in her city, but throughout Bolivia.

After more workshops and discussions with local citizens concerned about sexual violence, Julia became a local leader. Today, she speaks out against sexual violence, encourages victims to break their silence, and stands up to authority figures that don’t consider it important to provide care and protection to survivors. “At the beginning I was afraid to denounce [them], but as a project leader, I have had the strength to do so,” she says.

Julia is involved in a project called the “Comprehensive Approach toward Sexual Violence to Allow Victims and Survivors of Violence to Demand and Exercise their Rights,” developed by Ipas Bolivia and Marie Stopes International Bolivia, with support from the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development. This project brought together local police officers, medical forensic experts, doctors, prosecutors and other concerned professionals. These professionals then formed local networks in six municipal areas of Bolivia. In each municipal area, members coordinate prevention efforts, detect and report crimes, provide attention to victims, and help prosecute men who commit acts of sexual violence.

“This project began as a dream for justice for thousands of Bolivian women that confront violence every day,” says Ipas-Bolivia Associate Malena Morales, who coordinates the project.  “Sexual violence is the only crime in which the victim has to prove her innocence. We want that to end. We have put our own hopes and those of thousands of women in this project,” says Morales.

Together, the six municipal networks have more than 500 members. Network members receive training on the pervasiveness of sexual violence in Bolivia and learn how to make referrals for emergency contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections. Additionally, the network works helps to bring perpetrators of sexual violence to justice. Recently the committee donated 600 evidence-collection boxes that doctors can use to help women identify their assailant.

Despite some recent progress, in many areas of Bolivia victims of sexual violence see their testimony ignored or disbelieved. Many local authorities believe that some women simply ask for, and deserve to be, victims. Some evidence suggests that more than a third of Bolivian women have been forced to have sex with a partner and many more have suffered physical or mental abuse.

Elizabeth Ferrufino, an educator and member of the network in the Quillacollo municipal area, said in an interview that she had just finished following up on a case involving a 10-year-old girl who was brutally assaulted by a relative. Together with other local network members, Ferrufino first arranged to have medical care provided to the girl, and then later had an official take her statement. With the network’s help, the district attorney’s office ordered the alleged attacker to be detained, and a special crime-fighting task force arrested him.

“When I see these situations, I feel a lot of anger and pain, but shortly afterwards, I recover and try to do everything possible to provide the best care available. The project has truly allowed us to respond effectively to this problem, although much remains to be done to resolve every case,” explained Ferrufino. “It is an enormous effort, but it is worth it when a victim looks at you and, without saying a word, thanks you.”

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