Man Convicted by Bolivian Court for Sexually Abusing a Child
Violence Against Women and Children
LA PAZ, BOLIVIA – March 1, 2024, was a day of celebration and relief for Carina* and her family. After a long nine-year court battle, PROBOS, an IJM-trained partner, took on the case in February 2024. A month later, they achieved a 12-year sentence for the school teacher who sexually assaulted Carina when she was eight years old.
After Carina’s father reported the crime, he hired an attorney to take the legal case against the aggressor in 2015. But after several years of legal proceedings, the family’s financial situation worsened. Carina’s parents could not continue affording the lawyer fees and lost legal representation.
Carina's case faced a setback at the end of 2023 due to a lack of legal representation, which resulted in her case hearing being suspended.
The judge overseeing the case then suggested that Carina's father contact IJM for assistance as he had heard about PROBOS, a multidisciplinary team of lawyers, social workers, and psychologists who provide free legal and psychosocial support to victims of sexual violence.
In February 2024, IJM received Carina's case and less than a month later, the IJM-trained partner, PROBOS Team, achieved a 12-year sentence against the perpetrator.
Carina's father expressed his gratitude towards IJM and PROBOS team for their hard work, which enabled Carina's family to receive justice from the Bolivian Public Justice System.
Carina, who is now 16 years old, is set to begin therapy sessions with a trusted psychologist from PROBOS. Though she still has a recovery road ahead, this is a significant first step towards her emotional healing and restoration.
*Pseudonym used to protect the survivor’s privacy rights.