Protecting Women from Violence: A Soldier’s New Mission
In Zokoguhé, Côte d’Ivoire, Digbeu Zézé Sylvain once served as a soldier. Today, he fights a different battle—protecting adolescent girls and young women from gender-based violence and HIV.
The stakes are high. In Côte d’Ivoire, 76% of gender-based violence cases involve domestic abuse, and women account for 63% of new HIV infections in Sub-Saharan Africa. Fear and power imbalances make it harder for women to negotiate condom use, disclose their status, or access healthcare.
To break this cycle, USAID launched the DREAMS initiative (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe), tackling the social norms fueling violence and HIV risk.
In 2021, Sylvain joined a USAID-supported community program that reshapes these power dynamics. He was later chosen as a DREAMS godfather, a trusted leader mediating conflicts and challenging harmful behaviors.
“I have a mission. Every day, I go into the community—I don’t wait for them to come to me.”
Violence often unfolds behind closed doors. Sylvain’s discreet, strategic approach helps resolve conflicts before they escalate.
“When I visit a household, I speak to each person separately to prevent tensions from rising.”
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, survivors of intimate partner violence are 50% more likely to contract HIV. Yet, violence remains a silent epidemic—hidden but deeply entrenched.
Through DREAMS, USAID, and local leaders like Sylvain, communities are breaking the cycle and creating a safer future for women.
The full story was written by Cassandra Vasiloff, USAID Bureau for Global Health. Read it here.
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