By Lindsay Henson | Executive Director
As we pause to reflect back on 2018, we are encouraged by what was accomplished, strengthened through challenges faced, and thankful for the lessons we learned along the way. Here are just a few of the highlights.
In 2018, LvA provided legal and/or psychosocial support to 277 victims of gender-based violence (GBV), including sexual violence, domestic violence, and child abuse. Note that this included 217 new clients in 2018 and 60 clients who LvA began supporting in prior years.
LvA provided direct legal services to 214 GBV victims. Specifically, LvA provided protection order assistance to 127 clients and comprehensive criminal case support to 103 clients, with 16 clients receiving both services. Final protection orders were granted for 86% of clients who chose to complete the process. Additionally, there were convictions in nine LvA-supported cases including six cases of statutory rape and other charges including rape, kidnapping, and assault. The majority of LvA-supported criminal cases are still ongoing. LvA continues to work closely with the local police and court officials to provide support and ensure accountability in GBV cases.
Attending to our clients' emotional, mental, and psychological needs as well, LvA therapists provided 596 individual therapy sessions to 144 clients. Many of LvA’s therapy clients appeared to have experienced a shift as they were able to internalise a sense of security and develop intra- and inter-personal trust and hope. LvA’s therapists note that it has been poignant to witness clients’ courage, vulnerability and openness to re-imagining new possibilities.
LvA's community engagement team also made tremendous strides in raising awareness about GBV within the community and educating community members on their rights, legal remedies and the available support services provided by LvA. Through various outreach activities, LvA educated over 15,000 community members and facilitated workshops for 434 individuals, primarily women and girls. LvA's community action groups also planned and executed several events, reaching over 3,000 community members.
Our work would not be possible without the generous support of people like you - supporting LvA's work from all over the world! We are so grateful for your support and ongoing commitment to ending GBV. We look forward to growing from strength to strength in 2019.
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