The Guardian: Gender-based violence: stop looking for ‘proof’ and put survivors first
Aisha Bain, women’s protection and empowerment advocacy adviser for the International Rescue Committee

“…We at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) have found that women and girls do not come forward to disclose the violence they have experienced until specialized services are in place, and only then if they are trusted to be safe and confidential. Time and again, when services are established, women and girls seek help, sometimes the very same day those services are put into place. This is our evidence. … What would the women and girls we help think about the time and resources wasted on verifying incidents of violence? Services save lives and limited resources need to fund what works. Our mantra must become ‘survivors first, services first'” (2/18).