Justice for a teenage girl in Bolivia
Sexual Abuse
February 2025
Nila* recently received justice, after the man who sexually abused her when she was just 15 years old was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
In 2022, after her father abandoned them, Nila began working in a family home to support her mother. Her employer's husband gained her trust, eventually deceiving her into visiting a lodging in another part of the city. That’s where he sexually assaulted her for the first time.
In the months that followed, he abused Nila multiple times. The aggressor used her financial struggles as a tool to maintain her silence, coercing her not to tell anyone about what was happening.
The truth came out when the attacker’s wife found incriminating messages on her husband’s phone. She called Nila’s mother who, shocked and horrified, reported the abuse.
The case was referred to IJM and PROBOS, an IJM-trained partner, who provided Nila and her family with the free legal, psychological, and social support they desperately needed.
The journey was not easy. Even after the attacker was placed in pretrial detention, his family kept harassing and trying to intimidate Nila and her mum. Meanwhile, his legal team repeatedly pushed for his release.
The legal battle dragged on for a year. But the PROBOS team stood firm, supporting Nila to testify against her attacker.
When the 20-year sentence was finally handed down, it brought a sense of relief and validation for both Nila and her mum. Nila’s mum expressed heartfelt gratitude to the PROBOS team for standing by them through this grueling journey.
While Nila is trying to move forward, healing takes time and the emotional scars remain. Her mum, who works tirelessly in a laundry to support their household, fights daily for a better future for them both.
Nila’s story is proof that justice is possible when organisations, advocates, and communities come together to support those who need it most.
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*Pseudonym. Image not representative of survivor. Image of an actor.