Eight Year Old Rape Case Brings Questions About Refugees

I was horrified to read that an 8 year old girl was raped and not only that but by four kids! Kids ages 9 to 14. I thought this would be the most horrible part of this whole situation because not only was a girl victimized and most likely scarred with the situation she was faced with long into her future, but because these boys would also face the consequences of their acts long into their future (both physical and emotional). But then the plot thickened. The girl’s family has disowned her because of the act.

The girl and the boys are Liberian refugees.In countries including Liberia and like Liberia, the victim is blamed for the rape. This is why the girl’s father said that he did not want her back and that she has brought shame to his family(Palestinian News). The women who are victims in these communities are often shunned, just as this 8 year old girl is. The women are said to have led the men to the act, that they have put themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, and some even go as far as to say that the rape is a “figment of their imagination”. The Liberian Information Minister even administered a statement that older women should take part as sex workers to insure that young girls will not be raped. So basically his plan is that older women subject themselves to objectification and violation of themselves to allow the act to happen- just not to young girls. It is merely transference with no punishment on offenders rather than an allowance. Wow, what way to really address the problem. Strides are trying to be made by some such as a Liberian mother whose 9 year old daughter was raped. The assailant was the first to be convicted under a new law making the penalty for a crime committed such as this life in prison. This, mind you did not occur until 2007. Which means that millions of crimes such as this have gone unjustified up until the last few years. 

The eldest boy has been charged as an adult on an account of kidnapping and two counts of sexual assault. The 13 year old and 10 year old boys were charged with both sexual assault and kidnapping but as juveniles. And the nine year old boy is being convicted also as a juvenile on one count of sexual assault. The act seems to have been premeditated and craftily planned out as the boys offered the young girl chewing gum and then proceeded to take turns raping her behind a shed. Families, and girls such as this are not unaccustomed to the world of rape or other horrendous acts. Their country has been in a civil war for over decade. These acts are exactly what has brought them to our country seeking refuge. And now this 8 year old child is having to seek refuge due to the crimes of others brought here(for refuge). Her home, made here in hopes of a life away from these horrendous sights, has now, along with her body, been ripped from her.