lynsey addario, photographer

Africa: Madagascar Sexual Assault

Among Sub-Saharan Africa's children, child sex abuse remains prevalent. In much of the continent, perpetrators are shielded by the traditionally low status of girls, a lingering view that sexual abuse should be dealt with privately, and justice systems that consitute obstacle courses for victims.

Menja, 5 years old, sits with her mother, Domoina Rahahntanirina, and her brother, in their room in the slums of Antananivarro, Madagascar, November 9, 2006. Menja was molested by her uncle one night, and told her mother of the crime, and subseqently identified him in court as the perpetrator. Domoina, who lives with her four children in this one room, did not have enough money to pay the $15. fee for a medical exam for her daughter, facing the same dilemma as many poor Malagassy who do not have enough money to file a case for a victim of sexual assault. She eventually came up with the money, and the husband of her sister, the perpetrator, is now in jail.
   
Kenia Moravelo, 13, stands outside the shelter where she has been staying since released from her most recent stay in the hospital, November 1, 2006. Kenia was sodomized by her uncle three years prior, and went through several surgeries to try to repair her rectum and colon, which were destroyed in the rape. Kenia almost completely stopped eating after the rape in order to avoid the pain she endured going to the bathroom, and is only now gaining a little weigh back after years of being extremely thin.
  
Kenia Moravelo, 13, stands by the door of the shelter where she has been staying since released from her most recent stay in the hospital, November 1, 2006. Kenia was sodomized by her uncle three years prior, and went through several surgeries to try to repair her rectum and colon, which were destroyed in the rape. Kenia almost completely stopped eating after the rape in order to avoid the pain she endured going to the bathroom, and is only now gaining a little weigh back after years of being extremely thin.
     
  
Many, 15, files a report during an investigation into her rape by a neighbor three weeks prior at the main police station in Antananivarro, Madagascar, November 9, 2006. Many, threatened by her assaulter, was too scared to tell her mother about her rape until three weeks after the crime, and her family was barely able to pay the $15. cost of paying for a medical examination necessary for filing a case against the perpetrator.
  
Many, 15, clenches her hands as she talks to an investigator about her rape which took place three weeks prior while filing a case at the main police station in Antananivarro, Madagascar, November 9, 2006. Many, threatened by her assaulter, was too scared to tell her mother about her rape until three weeks after the crime, and her family was barely able to pay the $15. cost of paying for a medical examination necessary for filing a case against the perpetrator.
  
Hanitra, 12, sits in her bedroom in the Akany Avoco shelter for girls, in Antananivarro, Madagascar, November 7, 2006. Hanitra, originally from Ancilla bay, was a victim of sexual assault by her boss while she was working as a maid in Antananivarro at 11 years old, and was sent to Avoko by the court for safety, where she has been living for over a year.
     
  
Hanitra, 12, walks through the Akany Avoco shelter for girls, in Antananivarro, Madagascar, November 7, 2006. Hanitra, originally from Ancilla bay, was a victim of sexual assault by her boss while she was working as a maid in Antananivarro at 11 years old, and was sent to Avoko by the court for safety, where she has been living for over a year.
  
Kenia Moravelo, 13, colors in the yard outside the shelter where she has been staying since released from her most recent stay in the hospital, November 1, 2006. Kenia was sodomized by her uncle three years prior, and went through several surgeries to try to repair her rectum and colon, which were destroyed in the rape. Kenia almost completely stopped eating after the rape in order to avoid the pain she endured going to the bathroom, and is only now gaining a little weigh back after years of being extremely thin.
  
Justin Betombo sits alone in his home he shared with his wife, Lydia, and his neice, Kenia Moravelo, 13, before he allegedly sodomized Kenia one evening when she was 8 years old in their village outside of Sambava, in northeastern Madagascar, November 2, 2006. Since Kenia accused Justin of rape, the trial has mysteriously disppeared from the courts in the local district head, Antalaha, and Kenia has been in and out of the hospital; Justin's wife, Lydia, left him 8 months ago. Kenia has been in and out of the hospital and surgery since she was raped, and Justin claims she is suffering from witchcraft.
     
  
Jaozandry Mbotiliza, the mother of Kenia Moravelo, stands frustrated in the police station where her family filed two separate reports on the rape of her daughter-- both which were subsequently lost by the court in Antalaha where they were sent--as she follows up again on the case at the main police station in Sambava, in north east Madagascar, November 2, 2006. Kenia's family has been trying to prosecute Kenia's uncle, the alleged perpetrator, for sodomy on Kenia when she was 8 years old, and their case mysteriously disappeared. Kenia has spent the last three years in and out of the hospital, and in several surgeries, and remains both physically and emotionally traumatized. Like many families in Madagascar, Kenia's family is very poor, and does not have neither the resources to follow up on the case.
  
Kenia Moravelo, 13, weighs herself as Dr. Hande looks on at the shelter run by Dr. Hande where she has been staying since released from her most recent stay in the hospital, November 1, 2006, in Antananarrivo, Madagascar. Kenia was sodomized by her uncle three years prior, and went through several surgeries to try to repair her rectum and colon, which were destroyed in the rape. Kenia almost completely stopped eating after the rape in order to avoid the pain she endured going to the bathroom, and is only now gaining a little weigh back after years of being extremely thin.
  
Kenia Moravelo, 13, has breakfast at the shelter run by Dr. Hande where she has been staying since released from her most recent stay in the hospital, November 1, 2006. Kenia was sodomized by her uncle three years prior, and went through several surgeries to try to repair her rectum and colon, which were destroyed in the rape. Kenia almost completely stopped eating after the rape in order to avoid the pain she endured going to the bathroom, and is only now gaining a little weight back after years of being extremely thin.
     
  
Menja, 5 years old, walks with her mother, Domoina Rahahntanirina, through the halls of the police department while on their way to court to fight a case of sexual assault in Antananivarro, Madagascar, November 9, 2006. Menja was molested by her uncle one night, and told her mother of the crime, and subseqently identified him in court as the perpetrator. Domoina, who lives with her four children in this one room, did not have enough money to pay the $15. fee for a medical exam for her daughter, facing the same dilemma as many poor Malagassy who do not have enough money to file a case for a victim of sexual assault. She eventually came up with the money, and the husband of her sister, the perpetrator, is now in jail.
   
Malagassy fish near Farahlahara village, where Kenia Moravelo and her family are from on eastern coast of Madagascar, November 6, 2006. Children across Madagascar and Africa, alike, are victims of sexual assault, and often can not find neither the financial means nor the support network to report and deal with the crime.
  
Babies lie in cribs in the Akany Avoco shelter for girls, in Antananivarro, Madagascar, November 8, 2006. Avoko provides shelter for juvenile delinquants, orphans, and kids who can not live at home with their parents for security reasons.