The legal anchoring of our Sexual Assault Centers provides more stability and guarantees their long-term functioning

Secretary of State for Gender Equality, Equal Opportunities and Diversity Marie-Colline Leroy is delighted: "This legal regulation is the culmination of years of hard work to expand the SACs in our country and make them a permanent structure. It is also a great recognition of the hard work of all employees and stakeholders who work day and night to provide the best possible care and assistance to victims of sexual violence. Moreover, all attention can now go to the shelter and greater awareness of the sexual assault centres so that every victim knows that if something so terrible happens, there is a place they can go." 

• Government made Belgian SACs a spearhead of its policy against violence on women

When the Vivaldi government took office, our country had only three SACs. Today there are 10. The government, at the behest of the competent Secretary of State for Gender Equality, together with the Ministers of Health, Home Affairs and Justice, immediately recognised the important and unique work being done by the SACs and worked to provide the right framework and funding for the Care Centres. 

Secretary of State Marie-Colline Leroy: "During the budget negotiations for 2024, an additional six million euros was freed up to open three new care centres in 2024 so that every victim has a shelter close to home. A national campaign followed to make the care centres better known. The law now being prepared is the final piece of this determined work, designed to structurally anchor Belgium's SACs. It is a sign of appreciation for the hard work of the hospitals, police and prosecutor's office staff to accommodate and help victims in the best possible way."

• victims' rights are at the centre

A SAC is a partnership between a hospital, police forces and the prosecutor's office. The draft law describes the functions of each partner in a SAC to jointly ensure multidisciplinary care for victims, without discrimination. This includes medical care, a forensic examination, clinical psychological support, the opportunity to lodge a complaint and be questioned by a specially trained police officer. Victims may be accompanied throughout the process by a support figure of their choice. Other rights of victims and the protection of their privacy and intimacy are also regulated in the draft law.

The draft law also defines the types of sexual violence targeted by SACs and the services provided depending on the stage the victim is at (7 days or less; more than 7 days and less than 30 days or more). Victims are asked to go to the care centres as soon as possible so that they can be taken care of as soon as possible and so that, if the victim wishes, the necessary evidence can be collected as soon as possible. 

• Greater stability for Sexual Assault Centers

At least one SAV per public prosecutor's office can be recognised. The draft law describes the procedure for selecting the SAC, the financing of the various partners and the possibility of suspending cooperation if obligations are not met. Further modalities will be laid down in royal decrees. The Institute for the Equality of women and men will be responsible for coordinating and evaluating the cooperation of the SACs. The draft law also regulates the processing and retention of personal data.

• Great recognition for staff and victims' needs

In 2022, 3,287 victims came to the centres. And this number is even higher for 2023, according to the Institute for the Equality of women and men. From January to October this year, 3,507 people already knocked on the door of a SAC. 

Secretary of State Leroy: "These staggeringly high figures, which are probably just the tip of the iceberg, show the need for Belgian Care Centres. Every victim of sexual violence is one too many. If there are victims, they should be taken care of and helped further as professionally as possible. Our Belgian Sexual Assault Centres offer highly efficient cooperation between hospitals, police and public prosecutors. This legal entrenchment is a great recognition of their work and the needs of victims. With this, our country is already taking another big step forward in the fight against sexual violence, which mainly affects women."

Annelies Verlinden, Minister of the Interior: "Victims of sexual violence can rest assured that they will be taken care of and helped in a professional manner in the eventually 13 sexual assault centres spread all over the country. Thanks to their specialised training, police vice inspectors, for example, also make an important contribution in the initial reception of victims when they report to a care centre. With a solid and legal framework, we are now also taking the necessary steps to perpetuate the structures and functioning of the care centres."

Paul Van Tigchelt, Minister of Justice: "Every day, more than ten victims of sexual violence report to one of the Sexual Assault Centres after Sexual Violence in our country. These are frightening figures, even though we know that many victims still do not dare to report it out of fear or shame. Yet we see that the reporting rate is on the rise. In the first 10 months of 2023, more victims already found their way to a Sexual Assault Centre than in the whole of 2022. Thanks to the forensic way of working, we are now collecting more and better evidence to convict offenders. Victims also receive better care and counselling. Our approach to sexual violence with Sexual Assault Centres works and it is a good thing that we are structurally anchoring it in law. "

Frank Vandenbroucke, Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health: "This dossier is one of the most important dossiers of this legislature: structurally anchoring our Sexual Assault Centers and thus giving the professionals already working here a good framework. Unfortunately, this care appears to be very necessary. For the victims, this tailor-made care, in a safe and secure environment, is so important. I am therefore very pleased that we are taking an important step forward with this bill."

In 2016, Belgium ratified the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, known as the Istanbul Convention. The legal embedding of the Sexual Assault Centers should be seen in the light of the obligations arising from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention), ratified by Belgium in 2016. Article 25 of this Convention requires member states to set up centres for urgent assistance to victims of sexual violence.

The draft law, which was approved after a first reading, is now being forwarded to the Council of State and the Data Protection Authority, among others, for advice.