Pink Butterfly House is a recognized model program created by RHF and others to serve the special needs of sexually abused children and their families. The Pink Butterfly House is an exemplary public/private partnership and a unique, place for Child and young girls affected by rape.
About one out of every three girls and one out of every six boys are sexually abused before they reach fifteen years of age. In many villages across Eastern Uganda, sexually abused children who seek help are usually subjected to as many as a dozen repetitive interviews in cold, institutional settings, such as police departments and criminal court buildings. These experiences can be intimidating and frightening to a traumatized child. Moreover, few receive expert medical care, forensic examinations, or needed therapy services. Many parents feel their children are further harmed by the very systems that are supposed to help them.
The Pink Butterfly House was created to remedy these problems. It brings together, in a “one-stop,” child-friendly facility, services of the Abuse & Rape Treatment Center, law enforcement agencies, Legal Aid, the State Attorney’s Office, and the office of Children’s Affairs. Specially trained personnel from these agencies are easily connected and work as a multidisciplinary team to investigate cases and ensure that children are not re-victimized by the system.
Children are seen immediately and have access to comprehensive treatment, including 24-hour emergency medical care, expert forensic/evidentiary examinations, advocacy, crisis intervention, and long-term therapy services that child victims need to recover from the traumatic effects of sexual abuse. A child interview specialist conducts forensic interviews and trained advocates provide Court School and court accompaniment for children who testify in criminal proceedings. All of these services are free to the children and families that are served.
In this house is also taking care and support 25 marginalized and vulnerable Children orphaned and/or fatherless as a result of rape.
