What can a lack of forensic capacity mean for actual cases?
12-year-old Rhonda* was raped at knifepoint while walking through a field to her grandmother’s house. Her grandmother pleaded with police to investigate but received no response. In Kenya’s overburdened legal system, victims of sexual violence like Rhonda face major systemic obstacles to justice. Through an IJM intervention, Rhonda’s rapist was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Today, Rhonda is doing well in school and working hard to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. HB: We have seen the importance – the overwhelming importance – of strong forensic, medical evidence of rape to take to the courtroom. And in many of the countries where we work we just stumble on this problem over and over again. Take the case of Kenya. In Kenya about 70 percent of our lawyers’ casework is devoted to child victims of sexual violence and rape. Successful prosecution of these cases is very much dependent — not 100 percent, but very much dependent — on a proper medical documentation that the rape has occ
