Psychological Rehabilitation of Young Girl Survivors of Gender-Based Violence in Rural Egypt

Abstract

Violence against children has been silenced and ignored for a long time in Egypt, which has resulted recently in exacerbating the devastating impacts and consequences of this violence on the child’s physical and mental health. This violence is exaggerated in the case of young girls, who are already discriminated against based on their gender with increased vulnerability for gender-based violence (GBV). They are affected by culture, norms, and traditions that reinforce patriarchy and male dominance, and increase the prevalence of violent acts and attitudes against them. So, the project aims to challenge the cultural and social norms that normalize the violence against women and girls and to address the root causes and risk factors for gender-based violence and its mental health consequences on the young girls in rural areas in Egypt. In addition, it addresses the intersectional areas that contribute to gender inequality and discrimination against the target groups.
    The wellbeing and psychological health of survivors of GBV is an important pillar of ensuring that they are able to enjoy their lives. The trauma of GBV affects the rest of their lives and controls the way they engage and deal with the community and even may have a significant consequence on the surrounding community and people. Hence, paying attention to the psychological rehabilitation of GBV survivors means that we ensure a healthy, inclusive community for them without any discrimination. Protecting and supporting young girls is the shared responsibility of everyone in society. Therefore, enhancing the public and social awareness about the importance of providing support will create a way of sensitizing
    Communities’ responsibility to work collaboratively for eradicating GBV and support rehabilitation.
    The project centers on structural inequality that reinforces GBV on girls in rural Egypt with a subsequent lack of support and rehabilitation. Thus, the project proposes to mitigate the psychological consequences of GBV on young girl survivors through two pathways of change. First, filling the gap of providing these services to those marginalized young girls who do not have access to this type of service. Second, in collaboration with other partner organizations, stakeholders, and community leaders, to alter the negative stereotypes about GBV survivors and their critical need for psychological rehabilitation.
    These goals will be achieved through creating psychological rehabilitation units in cooperation with partner organizations that will work closely with the girls to improve their psychological health after GBV, in addition to raising public consciousness about GBV and its consequences on girls’ lives amongst community members in rural areas in Egypt. Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative measures, such as reports of the progression of the girls’ cases and continuous evaluation of the awareness level change of the participants, will be conducted to measure the effectiveness of our approach for achieving the project goals.