Associations for victims of sexual abuse: “Too many obstacles in the search for help” | Domestic

“Make society victim-friendly,” is the appeal that Floor Verhamme of the non-profit organization Anaktisi makes to the investigative committee. She points out that today only a limited number of victims turn to care. “That threshold must be lowered,” it sounds. “And even if you take the step towards assistance. Where are you going? The healthcare landscape is so fragmented that even care providers often don’t know where to go.”

The organizations do point out the progress made with the establishment of the Care Centers after Sexual Violence (ZSG), which provide assistance to victims in various areas. It is noted that these centers are only for victims of acute violence, but not for people who only later take the step towards assistance.

For Verhamme, the affordability of psychological help is also an important pain point. “Some of our members have to consider: should I go to the psychologist this month, or should I buy food. How is that possible in Belgium?” Sophie Wouters from Punt vzw also notices a major problem for the victims. “Let’s definitely make more money available for that,” she says. “Trauma is not resolved after six sessions.”

The organizations also complain about the lack of communication for victims when the court file is dismissed. The associations also agree on the need for more awareness and more preventive measures to guide perpetrators. They also point out that their organizations often rely on volunteers and that they have limited financial resources.

The victim organizations also explicitly ask the investigative committee not only to deal with abuse in the Church, but to look at the problem more broadly. “What difference does it make whether the abuse occurred by someone from the Church or someone else? That makes no difference to the victims,” says Marleen Achtergaele of the non-profit organization IMLandelijk.

The associations Brise Le Silence and SOS Inceste Belgique, among others, are asking for more attention to be paid to victims of incest. “The victims are too often not heard,” says Lily Bruyère of the latter organization. It also points out the obstacles that exist to abolish parental authority and visitation rights of the perpetrator.

Finally, Floor Verhamme (Anaktisi) also asks the committee members not to give false hope to the victims. “Write only what you can really do in the recommendations. Don’t make us happy with a dead sparrow,” she says. “I really hope that we don’t have to sit here again within ten years.”

It is the second time that a parliamentary committee has considered the subject. In 2010, in the wake of the judicial investigation ‘Operation Kelk’, a ‘special committee’ had already been established. The decision to set up a full-fledged investigative committee, with more powers, came after the documentary series ‘Godforgotten’. All Dutch-speaking factions in the House quickly agreed on the need for a new committee on sexual abuse, in which the victims are placed more centrally.