Yvonne



As a lawyer specialising in women's rights I should be all over this, but I'll restrict myself to one, particularly horrendous example which actually happened in Europe (I've changed the girl's name):



15 year old East African Yvonne lived in a village in South Western France. No, it wasn't isolated, and she wasn't particularly poor or lacking in education. In fact, she was walking to school. She and 2 friends walked from one village to the beginning of the next (less than 2 kilometres) every weekday. One day in 2017 both of her friends were unwell, so she set out alone. It wasn't a deserted highway, it was simply quiet and empty on occasions. Which they liked - it meant that they could take advantage of a stream which was in a dip between a hedge and the pavement. \"Take advantage\" that is to go to the toilet.



On that morning, she needed to. She saw no-one, there were no cars on the horizon, so all was well.



But it wasn't. That morning there was an 18 year old boy in the field. The noise of the stream meant that Yvonne could not hear him.



But he'd heard her. As she squatted, he pounced.



Three hours later, a farmer and his wife found her, barely alive.



Her parents had links in England, which is where I came in. Two years later, Yvonne can walk and is talking about the experience, but is afraid to go anywhere alone. I could say more but will restrict myself.



The boy, by the way, was caught and is in prison - but he only got a 5 year sentence for, effectively, destroying another human being.  



 

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