Ibuka Institution and Group Therapy Curative Factors in Healing Psychological Problems of Women Sexually Violated During 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi in Rwanda

Abstract

All along women had untold suffering as a result of sexual violence due to the shame and stigma associated with it. When 1994 genocide against Tutsi happened in Rwanda, sexual violence became a weapon of war where young girls and women were a target that led to death, incurable diseases, unwanted pregnancies, children with neglect, destruction of families-wives and husbands separated and girls and women sexually violated became hopeless to get husbands and remarry, respectively, to mention but few. Ibuka Institution created in 1995 was to provide psychosocioeconomic and legal assistance to survivors of 1994 genocide but still women sexually violated couldn’t open up and seek psychological assistance because of the stigma associated to sexual violence. Ibuka thought and initiated group therapy in 2009 to try help women sexually violated. It was in this line that the current study was to find out if women sexually violated achieved the curative factors in group therapy initiated by Ibuka. Testified by 40 women sexually violated through interviews and focus group discussions from Busog o, Kinigi and Muhoza Sectors of Musanze District in Northern Prov ince where group therapy was being used to approach their psychological problems, curative factors were identified in group therapy and indicated positively the remedy in terms of biological, socio-economical, spiritual and psychological spheres according to the findings. The silence was broken to curb shame and humiliation through information giving, they fought isolation through improved interpersonal relationships, they benefited group cohesiveness, by offering a sense of belong ing, acceptance and approval, there was reunification with families, further education for those who wanted to study, treatment in the country was availed in different hospitals and abroad for those with incurable diseases was planned, income generating activities for some were initiated and inclusion in families to combat stigma was improved. It was in this line therefore that the research findings built on identifying curative factors that proved essential to the healing of psychological problems of women sexually violated in Rwanda is recommended to other people who experience emotional pain but find it difficult to open up and seek help.