"When they were done with their dirty work, I got up and left."

"On 7 April 2017, my husband died in Damala, where we used to live."

"I can’t say when it was, but my husband was still alive at the time. I woke up early around 4am to buy vegetables in order to re-sell them in my neighborhood market. When I came back I came across a few (...) militants. They brutalized me and two of them raped me. When they were done with their dirty work, I got up and left."

"I hid the truth from my husband and family. It continues to be the taboo subject for me to this day. My husband passed away without knowing." Madame “R”, 37, widow and mother of 7 children.

Photo: Rena Effendi for the ICC #LifeAfterConflict - Stories as told to ICC Outreach @renaeffendiphoto