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Sexual violence. Bangui, CAR

Tongolo (“Star” in Sango) is a holistic project for survivors of sexual violence that MSF opened at the end of 2017 in Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic (CAR). The project provides medical treatment and mental health support, as well as guidance to pursue legal action and obtain protection, such as emergency shelter or socio-economic support. During the first five years of the project, MSF teams treated almost 13,000 survivors of sexual violence in Tongolo.
Tongolo project is hosted across two different structures in Bangui: the Hôpital Communautaire and the Tongolo centre, that is especially dedicated to survivors of sexual violence.
Sexual violence in CAR is a hidden public health emergency that cannot be solely addressed as an armed conflict-related problem, as it is also normalized within families and communities. The number of patients treated by MSF is just the tip of the iceberg. Many survivors of sexual violence don’t report their cases and don’t seek treatment for them. Also, too often there is blatant impunity for perpetrators, while survivors face acute stigmatization and significant obstacles to continue their life in the community. Although insufficient, there are a few initiatives in Bangui to support survivors of sexual violence, and some women have started to speak out.

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