Your Stories About Violence

Please tell me how to communicate with you. My sister was subjected to violence by her husband. She filed complaints against him many times but she used to drop them and get back to him again. This time she wants to sue him and get divorced. She has a medical certificate that proves the physical harm. Please guide me.

I am a 38 years old woman. When I was young, I did not understand what was happening, but after I grew up, I realized that I was being harassed by my sister's fiancé and by the school guard. My mother was very harsh and used to beat me. I hated her. I do not remember once that she listened to me, or that she ever cared about me as she only cared about my male brothers. I am married now, and I have two children. I still play with dolls because I did not have a normal childhood.

Lebanon, Nahr al-Bared: I am 35 years old Palestinian woman, I married traditionally without knowing my husband. Suddenly, I found myself in the marital home away from my family in a strange area where I don’t know anyone. I gave birth to two children who were my joy in this world. My husband used to say that he loves me, but he used to ask me to do some sexual disgusting things that I could not do. He used to drink alcohol daily and lost his job. Sometimes, I had nothing to eat.. He used to tell me to go to the street, where I can find food ....... Then he started inviting his friends to get closer to me because he was enjoying seeing me sleeping with another person in front of him ... I did not accept that... he beat me and forced me to stay up with him and his friends ... while he was drinking alcohol or weed. The children started to hate their father, and they asked me to run away and ask for a divorce ... The decision to divorce took me years ... When I told him that I want to leave, he apologized to me and asked me to stay...... Then I started to go to a psychologist ... she helped me to protect myself and my children… I ran away to my family home and asked for a divorce ...

My husband kicked me out of my house because I gave birth to a girl. He and his father don’t like girls. He doesn’t care about us at all. I’m 22 years old and I’m the only one looking after my child. We need a law that criminalizes discrimination against women and girls.

I experienced physical and emotional violence from my mother since my early childhood. I lived in fear and pain. I didn't know where to go and how to report. My relatives used to tell me that I shouldn't report my mother. I left my house and now I live with my grandmother. What I experienced in my childhood left scars and wounds and now I cannot imagine that I could be a mother. I hope that you will prevent violence against women and girls.

I’m a 29-year old Tunisian woman, I experienced sexual rape at the age of 18 and didn't report it back then or shared the story with anyone.