Free legal assistance for survivors of Gender-based Violence in Dadaab and Kakuma Refugee camps

In Dadaab and Kakuma, survivors of Gender-based violence (GBV) can get free legal help. 

GBV survivors are allowed to choose whether or not to report any form of GBV. A survivor’s account and verification of the assault incident is required when a survivor opts to take legal action against their offender. Learn more about the most common forms of GBV.

In this article, we provide useful information that can assist a survivor in the Kenyan refugee camps of Kakuma or Dadaab Refugee Camps in seeking justice. By reading this article, one will understand the important steps in documentation and the role that each stakeholder plays when a GBV survivor is seeking legal assistance.

Graphic: What you could do to help end violence against women and girls

Gathering evidence

Gathering evidence of injuries and collecting samples, such as blood, hair, saliva and sperm, within 72 hours of the incident, may help to support the survivor’s account of what happened. This helps to identify the offenders.

The survivor should not take a bath, shower or wash their clothes. The clothes worn during a sexual assault are to be put in a bag (not a plastic bag) or wrapped in a newspaper, this will stop the growth of fungus and bacteria that can damage the evidence. 

Documents that support survivors when seeking justice

There are crucial documents a survivor should have at the various stages of seeking legal action against sexual and other forms of GBV. The documentation starts by seeking medical care. You can learn more about free medical care for survivors of GBV.

1. Post Rape Care forms (PRC1)

This document can be found at the health facility where the survivor shall have sought treatment. The health officer who examines the survivor will provide and help fill a Post Rape Care (PRC1) form. The PRC1 form is filled in triplicate, meaning it will have 3 copies: 

• The original form (white copy) is given to the police and will be produced in court as evidence. 
• The duplicate form (yellow copy) is given to the survivor. 
• The third version of the form (green copy) remains in the hospital for record keeping. 

The details in the PRC1 form will help to fill a Police Abstract P3 form (discussed below) when the survivor is pursuing legal action against the abuser.

Other than filling out the PRC1 form, the healthcare provider will ensure the survivor has a safe place to go. Follow-up care on medical and psychological care will be provided. We have provided a list of health facilities that you can visit in Kakuma and Dadaab Refugee Camps for medical care in the later part of this article.

1. Police Abstract - P3 form

A P3 form is prepared at the police station. It is used to request for a medical report showing the nature of injury or harm caused by the abuser. We have discussed more on how why a survivor needs this document in Step 2 below.

Procedures for seeking legal action

Legal assistance is provided to promote or help survivors to know their rights, claim their legal rights and make informed decisions with respect to seeking justice. We will only provide information on proper reporting to the police and not the investigation or court process. 

Once the survivor has sought medical care, they are encouraged to report to a police station nearest to them. This is an important step and can only be initiated by the survivor of the attack or anyone in the community, especially where the survivor is a child.   

• Step 1.  

A GBV survivor goes to a police station to report. One reports to the gender desk or gender officer at the police station nearest to them. The police will write the report details in the Occurrence Book (O.B.) and give an O.B. Number. Most police stations in Kenya have Gender Desks handling cases of gender-based violence. Where there are no gender desks, there are officers who handle GBV cases. A survivor can choose to be accompanied by a person they trust or a witness when reporting to the police.

At the gender desk, the officer will help you to write a statement explaining what happened during the incident. You will need to sign the statement to show that it’s a true and accurate description of what happened. Only sign the statement if you understand and agree with what is written in it. If there was any witness of the incident, they should also give their statement.

• Step 2.  

The second important step is the processing of a Police Abstract P3 form. The police will then partly fill a P3 form, which is a request for a medical examination report. The P3 form is used by the police to request a medical examination from a health officer to show the nature and extent of injuries sustained by the survivor. 

If you go to the hospital before going to the police station, the hospital will facilitate the filling of P3 and PRC forms which you will need to submit to the police. If you have not gone to the hospital, you will need to go to the hospital with the P3 form, which will be filled by a doctor or a clinical officer. You can get the P3 form from a police station or you can download free of charge.

In case a survivor, first go to a police station to report sexual violence, they will be referred to a GBV center or to a hospital for medical assistance. Once you receive medical assistance, you will be required to return the fully filled original P3 form referred back to the police station where you made the report for further action by the police for the addition of the P3 form to your case file and the logging-in of the PRC form.

Where can you seek legal assistance after reporting to the police? 

The Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK) offers legal assistance that includes watching brief in court and legal advice on GBV cases in Nairobi, Kakuma and Dadaab. You can reach out to them through the number provided below.  

Health facilities in Kauma for medical assistance

Health facilities in Dadaab for medical assistance

National hotlines 

1. The National Toll-Free Hotline for Gender Based Violence (GBV), 1195.  The national Gender Based Violence (GBV) hotline is linked to health facilities that provide treatment for survivors of sexual violence, legal aid, and rescue centers.  You will not be charged any airtime When calling this line.   
2. Child help line,116 : The Child help line is a confidential reporting platform that is accessible to children and adults who have identified or witnessed violence against children. Attendants on the line offer one-on-one counselling and connect children with support services in their communities.  

GBV Hotline numbers in refugee camps 

If you have any questions, please write to us via the Julisha.Info Facebook page, or chat with us on WhatsApp (+254110601820) Monday through Friday from 08:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.