- Go to a safe place. Call someone you trust for support. Wangu Kanja Foundation (K) is the place to call accessible 24 hours a day: Contact us
- Do not take a bath no matter how much you feel like doing so until you have seen a doctor. This is because the rapist may have left some important evidence on you, which will be needed later on in court.
- Tell a person you trust such as your parents, teacher, pastor or the children’s officer that you have been raped. Children must always be reminded that the perpetrator will always threaten to hurt their loved ones if they report but that is usually empty threat and they should still report to someone they trust.
- Do not throw away your clothes. The police will want to keep your clothes and use them later on to apprehend the rapist and to produce them in court.
- Do not keep the clothes you were wearing when you were attacked in polythene bag as this may destroy evidence. It is better to keep the clothes in a paper bag or wrap them in a newspaper.
- As much as possible, avoid urinating. However, if you must do so, make sure you urinate in a bottle and present the sample to the doctor for analysis. The urine may contain important evidence that will be used in court.
- As soon as a possible, do see a doctor when the evidence is still fresh.
- Avoid taking any medicine before a doctor examines you. If you however do take any medicine, remember to tell the doctor who first examines you.
- Ensure that you visit the police station nearest to you and report the incident. You may ask a family member or a person you trust to go with you to the police station to report the offence. The police must report it in their occurrence book (OB) and give you the ob number.
- Do not sign any statement the police have written down until you are satisfied with the way it is written. This is because when you go to court, you will be questioned on the statement you wrote and it is important to be clear about what has been written down. The police should also give you a filled P3 form which you should take to the doctor who saw you after the attack to fill in. a police officer is not allowed to tell you that you cannot lay a charge or that you do not have enough proof.
- If you go to report the rape, do not give up. It is your right to report the rape. You may seek assistance from any human right organization nearest to you. If the offence was committed against a child, you may also visit the children’s office nearest to you. You may also try to report the crime at a different police station and complain about the police who refused to take your statement later. It is important to write down the name of police incase you want to see him or her again to clarify any issue.
- When you see a doctor, remember to ask the doctor to give you anti pregnancy pill within 72 hours from the time of rape. It equally important to find out whether the hospital you visited has antiretroviral or any other medicine to reduce the risk of infection of HIV or sexually transmitted infections. At the hospital, you will be asked several questions such as what your sexual habits are, your medical history, when you last had your periods etc. you may find the physical examination and questions by the doctor embarrassing but remember it is for your good. In this case also a post rape care form 1 (PRC1) should be filled in.
- When you are ready seek counseling. It is important to have counseling session to assist you with the healing process. Remember the decisions made after sexual assault are difficult, whatever decision you make should be the right one for you.
After all the above you may think to pursue the matter in court but that decision is entirely yours. Call us for further information on legal aid