A Central African widow and survivor of a brutal beating by Seleka, a beating that left her extremely frail and emotionally scarred.
A Central African widow and survivor of a brutal beating by Seleka, a beating that left her extremely frail and emotionally scarred. (Photo: Open Doors International)

Pope Francis’ first pontifical trip to Africa concludes with a visit to the Central African Republic, where wholesale deadly violence against Christians in 2013 was largely characterised by attacks that singled out women.

The first day of his trip to the continent, which beings in Kenya, is also the 17th annual International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, sponsored by the United Nations.

With this as a backdrop, World Watch Monitor presents two reports concerning violence against Christian women in CAR, as well as Nigeria, where the seven-year Islamist insurgency of Boko Haram has made that country the deadliest on earth.

From victims to victors describes the scope of gender-based violence across CAR and Nigeria, and visits a gathering of traumatised Christian women who learn that their religion does not regard them as shameful.

In Pope visits CAR, land of brokenness yet hopeful, Open Doors International’s women’s ministry director Hélène Fisher diaries on her participation in a July meeting at a rural CAR church to meet with pastors and a few women leaders still living in that country’s continuous chaos.

Violence Against Women is a photo story of a group of CAR women who are working to overcome the trauma of assault. It is provided courtesy of Open Doors International, a charity that supports Christians who live under pressure because of their faith.