Serving Survivors: In Rural States, Telemedicine Connects Sexual Assault Survivors To Services

The Basic Rights Counsel Initiative provides free legal representation, emergency shelter, and psychological support to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria's Cross River state. In a country where prosecutions can be hampered by ineffective or under-resourced institutions, the organization has filed 822 court cases and secured 30 arrests and convictions.

teleSANE services allow remote sexual assault nurse examiners to assist patients and guide nurses through exams via video chat. teleSANE services are expanding across the country, specifically in rural areas, expanding access for those in need of care.

Among the many restorative justice programs in the U.S., the Domestic Violence Safe Dialogue program was one of the few to arrange face-to-face dialogue between survivors and men who had violently abused women. This form of surrogate dialogue – the pairings are between strangers – helps two people who want to change but can't do it alone. After extensive preparation and led by a facilitator, the meeting gives survivors a way to hear they were not to blame for the harm done to them, and for the men to admit responsibility and help someone else in ways that traditional punitive justice often cannot.

In India “more than 75 000 cases of cruelty by husbands or relatives against women were registered in 2009.” There are no general, medical guidelines for doctors to follow when examining victims of sexual assault. An NGO, and a crisis center for violence against women in India, are filling in the gaps. They have trained doctors, nurses, provided rape kits, and offered a model for setting up crisis centers.

WARAKA Sexual Referral Centre provides services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including medical assistance and legal support. Amidst issues of confidentiality and stigma that prevent people from reporting cases of SGBV, the group uses an app that allows survivors to choose whether they share their identity or not when reporting an SGBV case. The app has recorded about 2,000 cases since 2022, inspiring the government to take action and enact relevant legislation to protect human rights and safety.

Boys Without Borders provides boys who experienced sexual abuse with a support system and educational resources to help them overcome social and mental health issues they may be facing. With the group’s 65 student volunteers, they have helped more than 2,500 boys since launching in 2020.

Hope Center offers free medical services, including psychosocial and counseling services, for victims of sexual and gender-based violence. The Center also collaborates with the legal system to work to achieve justice for survivors.

The CampusPal mobile app is a safe, confidential place for students at colleges in Nigeria to report cases of sexual assault and gender-based violence.

Colorado’s Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) helps survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse keep their physical addresses private. Registering to vote requires an address, which is part of the public record. The ACP program can also be used to enroll children in schools, on their driver’s licenses, and in court. ACP works with the postal service to create ghost addresses for survivors and it serves as the only place where the addresses are known. Four thousand people are currently using the service and up to 9,000 have used it since it began.

In Colombia, violence against women and domestic abuse are some of the highest in the region due to prolonged conflict, distrust in police and justice system, and economic oppression. Women are helping each other survive and report abuse outside of official organizations.