GBV: The Friday Night I Will Never Forget

It was a Friday night, May 8, 2009. Most students were out partying, but in one of the residence rooms, this student was studying with a rechargeable lantern after the power went out.

Then came the knock. A familiar voice called out the student's name. In the close-knit campus community, it felt safe. She stood up, ready to help or exchange a friendly word.

What happened next was a blur of terror: Two hooded figures in black overalls pushed their way into the room. One held a knife; the other, what looked like a gun. All she could see were their eyes—and the weapons.

The attachers shushed her as she begged for her life, but above all, not to be raped. The fear was primal: death was preferable to the indelible, lifelong stigma and trauma of sexual violence. This student knew the typical sequence: assault, then potentially murder.

As the hooded figures drew closer, ready to strip the student, a moment of desperation sparked an act of courage. She made an offer: "Anything you want, please take it!"

Miraculously, an expensive Mac laptop caught the attackers' attention. They took the laptop, glanced at her, and chose the material over the violent act. They left.

This student was one of the "lucky" ones—alive and saved from the trauma they feared most. But the question remains, chillingly: They could have had both, couldn't they? And how did they even know her name?

It goes to show how violence can be closer to home than we realize.

This story is a horrifying reality, and as we mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, we must remember that this is not just an abstract concept.

Global Statistics show that worldwide, nearly 1 in 3 women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner, non-partner, or both. UN WOMEN

In studies covering 161 countries and areas, it was found that the prevalence of intimate partner violence was highest in the least developed countries, highlighting how inequality drives vulnerability. WHO: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Moving beyond acknowledging the problem to actively protecting women and girls and treating violence against them with the seriousness it demands is paramount.

Also, the student in that room, on that terrifying Friday night, was me.

I share this now because the conversation needs to be grounded in the truth of what women risk every time they walk alone, open their door, or exist in a world where GBV is tragically common.

My expensive laptop saved me that night, but for countless others, there is no such trade. Let us commit to making our workplaces, campuses, and communities safer.

What action(s) are you taking this week to challenge the normalization of gender-based violence? Share your thoughts and join the conversation.