Abuse Relief Corps

Protecting a 14-Year-Old Survivor

This September, our team at Abuse Relief Corps (ARC) supported law enforcement in responding to a case involving a 14-year-old girl who was new in her community. Isolated and unfamiliar with her surroundings, she was taken advantage of and sexually assaulted by a local perpetrator.

With swift collaboration between ARC and the police, the survivor was rescued and the suspect arrested. We are now actively supporting the court processes to ensure justice is served, while also helping the survivor and her family access the care and protection they need.

Every child deserves safety, dignity, and justice. At ARC, we remain committed to standing with survivors of sexual exploitation, trafficking, and severe abuse through every stage of their journey.

Why Justice Matters Beyond One Case

This week, we celebrated a conviction that sent a ra**st to prison. But Ama’s story (not her real name) is also a reminder of the many survivors in Ghana whose cases never reach this point.

Too often, sexual and physical abuse cases collapse because families withdraw complaints, survivors cannot afford medical exams, or trials drag on for years without conclusion. When this happens, perpetrators walk free, and survivors are left with wounds but no justice.

At Abuse Relief Corps (ARC), we are committed to changing this reality. By covering medical costs, supporting police investigations, standing with survivors in court, and pushing for speedy trials, we help ensure that justice is not the exception, but the rule.

Every conviction is a victory. But the real goal is a system where every survivor has access to justice, protection, and healing.

When Survivors Have Nowhere Safe to Go

In Ghana, one of the most urgent gaps in protection is the lack of safe spaces for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

Just this month, the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) revealed that in the Central Region, survivors often have no shelter available. In one case, a girl who reported her abuse was forced to return and live with her abuser, because there was nowhere else to go.

In the Ashanti Region, a new campaign by Rights and Responsibilities Initiative Ghana (RRIG) with support from GIZ aims to reduce SGBV cases by 25% in targeted communities, highlighting that survivors face barriers such as weak reporting systems, lack of rehabilitation, and inadequate follow-up support.

At Abuse Relief Corps (ARC), we know that reporting abuse is only the first step.

Survivors also need:

• Safe housing and shelter.

• Medical and psychosocial care.

• Legal protection and accountability.

Justice is not only a court verdict. It means ensuring survivors are safe enough to begin healing. No one should ever be forced to choose between safety and justice.