Bolivia

Defending Children from Sexual Violence

Bolivia is a country of breathtaking landscapes, full of rich traditions, home of many indigenous people groups and the largest salt flats in the world. But in the midst of its beauty and diversity, a horrific plague threatens the safety of many children: sexual violence.

In Bolivia getting justice in courts takes years.

The process is complex, cumbersome and frequently derails. Sexual predators act with impunity. Young survivors who live in poverty have little hope of finding justice. Courts are backlogged and often lack effective case management processes. The few cases that move through the system can take years before reaching a sentence.

We are fighting to change this system and protect children from sexual violence.

Rescue Victims

We partner with the Bolivian National Police and Defensoría de la Niñez (Bolivian social services) to rescue children who are at risk of further abuse and bring them to safe places.

Bring Criminals to Justice

We support the Bolivian National Police to locate and arrest suspects, and partner with government prosecutors to ensure that child rapists and pedophiles are convicted.

Restore Survivors

We provide trauma-focused therapy for children who have endured sexual violence, and help survivors who choose to participate in the trial prepare to share the truth in court. We make sure families have the support they need, so children can heal in a stable environment.

Strengthen Justice Systems

We strengthen justice systems by providing hands-on training and mentoring to law enforcement, judges and other professionals. We seek to improve the overall justice system so that it protects all child victims of violence.

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Our Progress

Since December 2006, we have rescued more than 160 children and secured more than 120 convictions. Cases of sexual violence against children are 30 times more likely to reach a conviction if IJM is involved.

We have trained more than a thousand teachers and educators on how to identify and report sexual assault cases. They are now equipped to protect the more than 25,000 students they serve.

We have successfully advocated for trials to be concluded in as few as 18 days – a major step forward in a country where cases usually take years, if they reach any verdict at all.

The Bolivian government has invited us to train all government psychologists working with the Social Services Ministry to help ensure that children who survive sexual assault receive sensitive care through the justice system process.