WK 216 Accompaniment for victims as they share stories about abuses

Ensuring the physical, psychological and emotional safety of victims of abuse is essential to helping them tell their stories. Accompaniment, which can take many forms, is one way to do this. Whether in court, in mock tribunals or in informal community settings, when victims tell their stories they can help break the silence surrounding abuses, end impunity for perpetrators and create space for healing and momentum for change.

Panelists

Featured Tactic: Mufuliat Fijabi, BAOBAB for Women’sHuman Rights, Nigeria Complementary Presentations:

• Paul Haupt, Former Briefer for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Director of Political Perpetrator Studies at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, South Africa
• Monica Pinzón, Equipo de Estudios Comunitarios y Acción Psycosocial (ECAP), Guatemala

Featured Tactic

Accompaniment for victims testifying about violence against women at a mock tribunal Mufuliat Fijabi, BAOBAB for Women’sHuman Rights, Nigeria

• View Mufuliat Fijabi’s PowerPoint presentation 4,021 KB
• Read Mufuliat Fijabi’s presentation outline

BAOBAB provided accompaniment and support to 33 women willing to provide personal testimonies of violence against women in front of a mock tribunal. The mock tribunal gave an opportunity for these victims of violence to share their stories, be heard by prominent people and have an impact on public policy. BAOBAB and its partners took steps to provide a safe venue giving voice to the survivors of violence. They ensured the women’ssafety and, when desired, anonymity, helped prepare them for the testimony process and provided direct support before, during and after their testimony. The mock tribunal exposed the increasing violence against women at the hands of family members, law enforcement agents and the general public; discussed the abuse of traditional practices to justify violence and raised general awareness about women’shuman rights. The women’stestimony was instrumental in sharpening the consciousness of the Nigerian community leaders regarding their responsibilities and accountability. The media coverage created leverage to advocate for reforms of existing laws at local and national levels and to introduce new legislation related to violence against women.

Complementary Presentation

Paul Haupt, Former Briefer for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Perpetrator Studies at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, South Africa

• View Paul Haupt’s PowerPoint presentation 134 KB
• Read Paul Haupt’s presentation outline

The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) gave victims the opportunity to testify and be supported before, during and after the process. The TRC selected briefers usually ministers, social workers and nurses from the community to provide this support. As a consequence of the sustained, supportive work of the briefers during the entire process, victims better understood their legal, emotional and practical positions. Thus, they felt they owned the process and were able to contribute in an important way.

Complementary Presentation

Monica Pinzon, Equipo de Estudios Comunitarios y Acción Psycosocial, Guatemala

• View Monica Pinzon's PowerPoint presentation

The Equipo de Estudios Comunitarios y Acción Psycosocial, (Community Studies and Psychosocial Action Team) or ECAP provides support to families and communities before, during and after an exhumation of a loved one who had disappeared. ECAP organizes support groups where families can safely share emotions related to their loss, fearlessly tell their stories, learn to face the consequences of violence and understand the current situation so that they can plan for the future.