Ten Things To Do In Case Of Rape

Women At Risk International Foundation (WARIF) reports that one in four women experience sexual violence, which includes rape before they are 18 years old.

This shows that a lot of Nigerian women have been abused and many may remain unsafe until there are law reforms on sexual misconduct. While it is difficult to imagine that you would ever be in a place where you are the victim, it is important to always be prepared. Here are things you need to do if you or your friend are ever in this awful situation:

1. Get out of there: The first thing you need to do is get away from the scene of the incident and make sure you are no longer in any form of danger.

2. Go to a hospital: You need to go to a hospital, especially if you have received any other bruises or if you are physically hurt. You are within your right to request to see a doctor that makes you feel the most comfortable.

3. Request a rape kit and complete a sexually-transmitted diseases work-up: This is going to be difficult. You have to be honest about what has happened to you but the hardest part would be facing the rape kit. The process is quite invasive. Although you may find this hard, it is the best thing you can do if you are going to ever get justice.

4. Rest: When you are finally out of the hospital and safe in your home, you need to get a lot of rest. Your body needs to heal and your mind needs to be calmer. You are going to be confronted with a lot of decisions after you are well-rested.

5. Consider your options for legal recourse: You have to decide if you want to take legal action. You don’t have to feel pressured to do this immediately. But you should consider it, especially if your assailant is someone you know.

6. If you decide you want to take action, get a lawyer: It’s best to go to the police station with a lawyer. Your lawyer will make sure that the police cannot ridicule your story and that your case is taken seriously.

7. File a report at a police station: You need to do this with your lawyer who will help guide the process and begin your fight for justice.

8. Consider getting therapy: The same way you have to carefully consider whether or not you want to legally persecute your assailant is the same way you have to think this through. There are no wrong or right decisions. But, it is advisable to see someone who can help you deal with the trauma this is likely to cause.

9. If you decide you need some help, take it seriously: You need to attend all sessions and put in the work. This will not be easy but it will be helpful and beneficial in the long run.

10. Give yourself time to heal: Don’t rush the healing process. Everyone has different ways of dealing with their pain and you would find one too. No matter how long it takes, you will eventually feel better and safe again.

This is not a foolproof list of things to do if you experience sexual violence but it is a guide to help you. You are allowed to skip any step that makes you feel uncomfortable (except for getting medical attention). There is no right or wrong way to handle this but we do hope that this list helps you.
Don’t forget to share this to all your friends as you may never know who would need this.