Rose faced constant violence from her husband, including psychological aggression. He physically coerced her into intimacy, used her as a punchbag and verbally abused her when drunk. This severely affected her physical and mental health. Her in-laws were not supportive, believing she “deserved the beatings” due to an “evil spirit” that needed exorcism. Furthermore, her husband denied her the right to do business to earn an income and failed to provide the necessary financial support for the household. Through gender equality and human rights awareness training, Rose gained an understanding that her husband was denying her rights and unfairly discriminated against her. She realised she could be the change she wanted to see.

Rose gained confidence and became more assertive, learning about legal protection services against GBV and discrimination available for women, and women’s right to protection from violence, including domestic violence. She applied this knowledge to stand against abuse and discrimination. Initially, the biggest challenge was believing her husband would stop the violence, which trapped her into not challenging it for a long time. She realised that deeply held societal norms and the patriarchal system had socialised her husband to believe that domestic activities were women’s obligations, men had authority over women and violence was normal.

Rose successfully stood up to her husband and dealt with the related challenges, positively impacting her life. Using the skills she gained from the vocational centre, she started a small-scale confectionery business and a home-gardening business. Rose broke the cycle of violence by enlisting support from peers, community leaders and WROs. The local men’s club helped make her husband aware that he must stop his violent and toxic behaviours. Her husband is now happy to share household chores and does not care about other men thinking of him as weak or “bewitched.” This change not only freed her from vulnerability but also positively impacted her family and community.

Rose is now a role model for other women, inspiring them to stand up against abuse and fight for their rights. She shares her experience of asserting her rights to encourage other women to act against violations and provides follow-up support if needed. Her confectionery business centre acts as a safe space for women to share their experiences and support each other. As more women and girls became aware, more women have become confident to report violations and seek legal protection if needed. To date, nine women in her community have raised their voices against violence, and two of them have sought legal support. Rose is involved in teaching about the negative impact of violence, promoting an environment of support and prevention within her community.