Karima, 28, had an arranged marriage in 2015. But soon her husband started beating her.
In her distress, she sought counseling in March from an Afghan women’s NGO. When staffers saw her bloodied face, they knew something was wrong. But when they asked her what happened, she said she had only “fallen down,” and feared going to a doctor.
After much urging, Karima — whose real name is hidden due to security issues — admitted that the bruises were caused by her husband. But she was afraid to go to court, thinking she would only be blamed for her predicament.
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About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
