You are a victim of sexual violence. Where can you go immediately?
More than 60 percent of our population has had to deal with some form of sexually transgressive behavior (e.g. indecent assault/ violation of sexual integrity, grooming or rape). Preventive measures and good post-activity support are necessary.
Following the Istanbul Convention, which seeks to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence, the Care Center after Sexual Violence (ZSG). established. These care centers are spread across numerous hospitals in our country, where victims can go for free. These centers are available 24/7 and offer all kinds of different assistance, bundled together in one place.
What help does the Sexual Violence Care Center offer?
- Medical care
People can initially come to the SSF for care of any injuries sustained as a result of sexual violence, as well as for examination and treatment of physical, sexual or reproductive consequences. If necessary, specialist doctors may be called upon.
- Mental health care
A forensic nurse is available to each victim to provide a listening ear and psychological support immediately after the traumatic experience. In addition, the victim is accompanied by a ZSG psychologist during the remainder of the coping process.
- Forensic care
The forensic nurse also makes determinations about the injuries and examines traces of the perpetrator that can serve as evidence at a later stage. The victim still decides whether to file a complaint and whether that evidence may then be used.
On the website of the ZSG, one can find some more important tips on how to best preserve the traces after the fact.
- Complaint filing
The victim ultimately chooses whether to file a complaint. Should that be the case, this can also be done in the SSF with an inspector who has received special training in vice cases. This person is thus specially trained and selected to take on the front-line role when reporting sex offenses to limit any secondary victimization.
In addition, there is another specific section for minors, TAM (Technique Audiovisual Interrogation of Minors), in which police officers who deal with minor victims of sex offenses have received additional specific training.
If it is too difficult to make an immediate decision about filing a complaint, the victim also has the option of still filing a complaint for the sexual offenses he or she witnessed a few weeks after the investigation at the ZSG. At these subsequent hearings, one of our sex lawyers can accompany you as support.
Emergency Victim Assistance
Due to the multidisciplinary approach of the MSF, it is crucial that all actors are attuned in order to provide the right assistance. This is why a cell was recently set up in some police zones of Brussels. Emergency Victim Assistance (EVA). established to contribute to the care of victims of sexual violence. The EVA cell consists of specifically trained police members capable of conducting a quality, victim-centered interrogation of the victim.
The EVA cell or vice inspector who comes to the scene provides closer cooperation between the SSF and the police, lowering the threshold for the victim to make a complaint in a safe environment.
It is recommended that people get the treatment and any legal support they need as soon as possible after the acts. That is why the Care Centers after Sexual Violence are always available and can be contacted immediately in the first seven days after the event. If it has been more than seven days then it is best to make an appointment first. As specialized sex lawyers, we can be your legal guide through this difficult period.
If you are a victim of any form of sexual violence or would like more information about it, please feel free to contact us info@bannister.be or 03/369.28.00.
