Childbirth without consent, gynecological examinations experienced as intrusive, pain minimized, invisible, too often trivialized. These experiences are not isolated: they are the reality for many women.
To break this silence and bring to light stories that are still too rarely heard, we are today launching the graphic novel Nos corps, nos voix (Our Bodies, Our Voices)—a tool for public education and feminist advocacy to end gynecological and obstetric violence (GOV).
When the body is coerced and consent is violated
Through the story of Amina, a young woman from the Senegalese middle class, "Nos corps, nos voix" delves into the intimacy of childbirth experienced as an assault. Her body is constrained, her pain ignored, her consent violated—as in the case of abdominal pressure, often imposed without explanation. This silent violence leaves her confused, guilty, disconnected from her baby—until she meets Coumba, who shares her own experience of gynecological violence. Through this dialogue, a realization dawns: what they have experienced is not an isolated case. It is a system.
From individual experiences to systemic reality
"Our bodies, our voices" does not simply tell a story. It analyzes the structural mechanisms that make this violence possible within the healthcare system. The causes are multiple and intertwined: excessive medicalization of pregnancy; dehumanization of women in healthcare relationships; insufficient training in listening, pain management, and respect for consent; the weight of sexist norms and medical hierarchy; symbolic domination over patients' bodies.
This violence, which often goes unrecognized and unpunished, affects millions of women around the world. In Senegal, nearly four in ten women report having experienced some form of GBV, with profound physical, psychological, and social consequences.
Spaces to speak, heal, transform
The story concludes with a collective healing space: a women's talking circle, where words take power, silences are broken, and experiences become struggles. This graphic novel is a call to recognize these acts of violence, to document them, to combat them, and to build care systems that respect consent, listening, and human rights.
A tool for feminist action
Designed as a tool for mobilization and empowerment, "Our Bodies, Our Voices" is intended for a wide audience: activists, health professionals, young people, decision-makers, teachers, artists, parents, partners, and more. It is part of a popular education initiative: a sensitive and political educational tool to encourage discussion, bring experiences to light, and drive change.
Join us in taking action!
📥 Download the graphic novel now 👉 Graphic Novel -VGO
📲 Share it with your networks, partners, and discussion groups.
💬 Because our bodies matter.
🔊 Because our voices resonate.
✊ Together, let's reject gynecological and obstetric violence.
This graphic novel is part of the "Our Body, Our Health" project, carried out in Senegal with the support of the French Development Agency (AFD).
