West Africa

The tricky thing is that, yes, they [my parents] would respond positively to the policy, but at the same time, they are the kind of people that don’t want much attention drawn to themselves -…

I think that if the men [were] here, maybe the men would want to hear how I don’t want to be treated. Like one of the participants said, um, some people don’t know that its…

I think maybe they could add [to the sexual assault policy] some tips of how, if you find yourself in a situation you find unsafe or you feel like you are currently being verbally or…

My parents are very old-fashioned. If something like this was to happen to anyone in my family, they would want to make sure it wasn’t talked about. So, let’s say you choose to report; you…

I just want to remind you guys that, like, the weird relationship with students and teachers in West Africa is kind of messed up. I don’t know about you… but in one of my schools,…

The person [who I would want supporting me following a sexual assault] should have knowledge about my background, so they can understand what I am going through. I don’t want someone who is putting words…

Participant 1: I feel like my dad […] would look at the policy as something slow […]. Like, if he believed that the policy is not doing anything, or the process is going too slow,…

Participant 1: Okay, so I think from our region, what I would say is that the patriarchal system in West Africa doesn’t allow for things like that [sharing your story]. One, you feel like you…

Facilitator: Do you think the policy should be in different languages? Participant 1: Oh yes. Participant 2: Yes. Participant 3: Yes, definitely. Participant 4: Yes. Participant 2: Can’t it be in English? English is fine,…

I have siblings, and my siblings are girls. So, if something like this were to happen, I think they’d very much encourage me to report it, rumours or not. Because, unfortunately, I feel like all…