163. The Complainants have also submitted that when the victim reported that she was a victim of T.I.P, the police instead interrogated, threatened her with criminal sanctions and subsequently detained her. They allege that the police accused the Victim of lying about her immigration status. 164. It is worth noting that in paragraph 5 of the Respondent State's Submissions, as well as in the sworn statement of Mr. Ndidalelwa, one of the police officers on the case, there is reference to the victim wearing a sleeveless top and her not having any visible scars or injury marks. 93 It is possible to conclude from this that the police had profiled the victim and made their own adverse inferences from the way that she was dressed. The Commission also takes the view that tl1is profiling had the effect of tainting the investigation, as the police had already concluded that the victim was falsifying her allegation. Moreover, their demeanour is almost tantamount to a denial of victim status. In the General Comment No. 4, the Commission stated that: State Parties are required to protect the dignihJ of victims at all times and ensure that victims are at the centre of the redress process. A victim-centred approach to redress requires an analysis and full understanding of the harm suffered and of the victims' wishes. It needs to reflect their experiences and realities, so that the provided redress is responsive to their needs.94 165. The manner in which the victim is described in the Respondent State's submissions and in the evidence of Mr. Ndidalelwa increases the plausibility of the allegation that she was intimidated and threatened. It is also synonymous with the Commission's analysis on investigations that encumber redress for women who are victims of sexual violence in violation of Article 5 of the Charter. In General Comment 4, the Commission opined that: Stigma, feelings of guilt or shame, fear of retribution, and the unavailabilihJ of support or lack of information about available s191~ -P ent victims from coming fonvard. Further, injuries, both physieal and psy_cholo l, may be less obvious than those caused by other forms of violenc 5 I ., " 1. l ":. w f ;; ~ ~ Jl.\l uP- /'~;n:1~~,~ -~ 93 Respondent State Su bmissions, Annex 7, Sworn Statement of Mr. Joshua Ndidalelwa 94 General Comment No. 4 para 18, page 6 95General Com ment 4, para 60 40 f r.,'o,i.C

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