Help Rape Survivors in Ethiopia
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Dear All,
As you may know, I am a strong believer of women and girls empowerment through education, training and economic advancement. It has always been my passion to support the cause of women and girls and empower them in whatever way I can to change their lives for better.
This has been reflected in all aspects of my life, including my career and my day-to-day job, as well as in my spare time through long-term volunteering commitments.
Ethiopian women & girls are incredibly hardworking but
• have always been lower class in society when it comes to sharing economic resources
• have been left behind socially, economically and politically and live lower standard of living.
• have lower access to educational opportunities, modern standard of living and basic maternity healthcare
I would like to take my friends, family, colleagues and all others with me in my next journey of empowering a specific group of girls and women to stand tall and face the world again despite what they have been through.
I am organising this fundraising to ask you to help me raise funds to support women and girls who are survivors of rape in Amhara and Afar regions of Ethiopia due to the ongoing war waged by Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). This cause is very close to my heart. To our horror, sexual violence and rape have been used as a weapon of war by TPLF in areas where their soldiers had occupied, Amhara and Afar. As reported by Amnesty International, Channel 4 and various other media outlets, despicable atrocities of sexual violence and gang rape were committed on numerous innocent women and girls of all ages, ranging 12-83.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/11/ethiopia-survivors-of-tplf-attack-in-amhara-describe-gang-rape-looting-and-physical-assaults/
https://www.voanews.com/a/amnesty-report-details-accounts-of-rape-by-tigrayan-forces-in-ethiopia-s-amhara-region-/6307309.html
Testimonies of rape survivors in Amhara & Afar region told by Channel 4 news
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZxVLKfnacI
They have suffered physical and psychological trauma as a result the barbaric sexual violence attack. Wives, mothers, sisters and daughters were raped in the presence of their loved ones as an act of humiliation, stripping them off their dignity. They were made to feel ashamed of the crime that was no fault of their own and now in hiding from their community.
Not only they were deprived of their dignity but also have been left without medical treatment and psycho social support due to essential infrastructure such as hospitals, clinics, schools, faith and sacred places were being destroyed by TPLF during their occupation. Basic essential medicines, vaccines and medical equipment have also been destroyed and looted by TPLF solders.
Video documenting destruction and looting of hospital equipment and medicines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7mokIx3L7Y
How can we help?
The survivors are made to feel ashamed of the rape attack perpetrated on them and have forced to hid themselves without getting any medical or psychological support.
Culturally, rape is a taboo and survivors are usually not willing to talk openly due to fear of becoming ostracised from their community.
I will use the fund to support rape survivors in the following areas:
-Access urgent medical help in hospitals and clinics within their proximity. In the absence of no medical services within proximity, provide support for travel and other costs.
-Access psychological support services to help them treat the trauma and restore their normal livelihoods. Girls and women need to continue to go on about their everyday life; go to work, schools, universities and their chosen way of life.
-Set up victim’s support group to support each other and mobilise other resources.
-Liaise with other agencies’ services to provide support with their differing needs.
-Educate communities and families to create awareness of gender based violence and empower survivors to be victors
-start advocacy campaign for the Government to set up specialised services which focus on rape survivors
With your support, I would like to support these incredible women in a small way to bring their confidence back and regain their dignity to enable them to move on to continue their way of life. My goal is to raise £25,000.
The link for GoFundMe campaign page is below:
gofundme.com/f/war-rape-survivors-Amhara-Afar-Eth
Whatever small donation you give, will bring these incredible women and girls hope that people like you are thinking of them at this low point in their life. Any donation would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for your generosity in advance
Belaynesh (Bella) Hailemariam
I am raising this fund on my own capacity not on behalf of any organisation.
As you may know, I am a strong believer of women and girls empowerment through education, training and economic advancement. It has always been my passion to support the cause of women and girls and empower them in whatever way I can to change their lives for better.
This has been reflected in all aspects of my life, including my career and my day-to-day job, as well as in my spare time through long-term volunteering commitments.
Ethiopian women & girls are incredibly hardworking but
• have always been lower class in society when it comes to sharing economic resources
• have been left behind socially, economically and politically and live lower standard of living.
• have lower access to educational opportunities, modern standard of living and basic maternity healthcare
I would like to take my friends, family, colleagues and all others with me in my next journey of empowering a specific group of girls and women to stand tall and face the world again despite what they have been through.
I am organising this fundraising to ask you to help me raise funds to support women and girls who are survivors of rape in Amhara and Afar regions of Ethiopia due to the ongoing war waged by Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). This cause is very close to my heart. To our horror, sexual violence and rape have been used as a weapon of war by TPLF in areas where their soldiers had occupied, Amhara and Afar. As reported by Amnesty International, Channel 4 and various other media outlets, despicable atrocities of sexual violence and gang rape were committed on numerous innocent women and girls of all ages, ranging 12-83.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/11/ethiopia-survivors-of-tplf-attack-in-amhara-describe-gang-rape-looting-and-physical-assaults/
https://www.voanews.com/a/amnesty-report-details-accounts-of-rape-by-tigrayan-forces-in-ethiopia-s-amhara-region-/6307309.html
Testimonies of rape survivors in Amhara & Afar region told by Channel 4 news
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZxVLKfnacI
They have suffered physical and psychological trauma as a result the barbaric sexual violence attack. Wives, mothers, sisters and daughters were raped in the presence of their loved ones as an act of humiliation, stripping them off their dignity. They were made to feel ashamed of the crime that was no fault of their own and now in hiding from their community.
Not only they were deprived of their dignity but also have been left without medical treatment and psycho social support due to essential infrastructure such as hospitals, clinics, schools, faith and sacred places were being destroyed by TPLF during their occupation. Basic essential medicines, vaccines and medical equipment have also been destroyed and looted by TPLF solders.
Video documenting destruction and looting of hospital equipment and medicines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7mokIx3L7Y
How can we help?
The survivors are made to feel ashamed of the rape attack perpetrated on them and have forced to hid themselves without getting any medical or psychological support.
Culturally, rape is a taboo and survivors are usually not willing to talk openly due to fear of becoming ostracised from their community.
I will use the fund to support rape survivors in the following areas:
-Access urgent medical help in hospitals and clinics within their proximity. In the absence of no medical services within proximity, provide support for travel and other costs.
-Access psychological support services to help them treat the trauma and restore their normal livelihoods. Girls and women need to continue to go on about their everyday life; go to work, schools, universities and their chosen way of life.
-Set up victim’s support group to support each other and mobilise other resources.
-Liaise with other agencies’ services to provide support with their differing needs.
-Educate communities and families to create awareness of gender based violence and empower survivors to be victors
-start advocacy campaign for the Government to set up specialised services which focus on rape survivors
With your support, I would like to support these incredible women in a small way to bring their confidence back and regain their dignity to enable them to move on to continue their way of life. My goal is to raise £25,000.
The link for GoFundMe campaign page is below:
gofundme.com/f/war-rape-survivors-Amhara-Afar-Eth
Whatever small donation you give, will bring these incredible women and girls hope that people like you are thinking of them at this low point in their life. Any donation would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for your generosity in advance
Belaynesh (Bella) Hailemariam
I am raising this fund on my own capacity not on behalf of any organisation.
Organizer
Belaynesh (Bella) Hailemariam
Organizer
England