Punt.vzw: “Antwerp must also take steps against sexual … (Antwerp)
About six hundred people took part in a protest march in Ghent against sexual violence on Sunday, after several reports of sexual aggression in Ghent’s nightlife in a short time. The city council then met with the partners involved on Tuesday. After that meeting, Mayor Mathias Declercq (Open Vld) announced that a series of actions will be set up in the city. This includes training for catering staff so that they can intervene when they notice something. There will also be bystander training and the police will be vigilant. The city also appoints a sexual harassment coordinator.
Punt.vzw, the Antwerp organization that is committed to supporting sexual violence, encourages the steps of the city of Ghent, but is also critical. “What happened in Ghent is distressing,” said spokeswoman Sophie Van Reeth. “But people think it’s a new problem that exploded after corona. That is not true. The problem is shifting. In full lockdown, partner violence and domestic violence increased. Violence then mainly took place indoors. These cases often remain under the radar because they have a relationship with the perpetrator and want to protect them. Now we see an explosive people moving again and the perpetrator is again an unknown. That makes it report something.”
It is also not the case that the problem is limited to Ghent’s nightlife. “It happens just as much in Antwerp, Brussels and other places,” says Van Reeth. “What Ghent is doing is a good start, they are important steps towards a safer world. It would be good if Antwerp were to take action. For example, catering staff can be an interest. If they keep an eye on them, there is more social control and they will think more about their actions. But the problem mainly lies in the general mentality.”
In June, Gazet van Antwerpen wrote that 64% of people living in Belgium have ever been the victim of sexual violence. 80% of the women said so, and 48% of the men.
New Care Center after Sexual Violence in UZA
Punt.vzw therefore insists on more attention to prevention and victim support. “Good things are definitely already happening,” says Van Reeth. “Just look at the training courses for vice inspectors at the Antwerp police, given by our founder Ayke Gubbels. These training courses should help the inspectors to be helpful in adopting a business approach.”
Wednesday opens in the UZA and the Care Center after Sexual Violence (ZSG). Victims can find all the information they need there for medical care, psychological support, forensic research into sexual violence and for help with reporting the crime. The ZSG also includes what help is needed. “It is fantastic that Antwerp is also getting its own ZSG. However, the main focus is on those who report within 72 hours after the facts. There is also a counseling process for those who come knocking on the door during the first month after abuse. But people who have suffered the abuse for a longer period of time are referred. To Punt.vzw, among others, for our previous discussion groups. We already know that we will be flooded even more,” says Van Reeth. “At the moment we are receiving three to four new notifications of messages. We are still able to do that so far, but it will become more difficult. We have more structural resources to provide guidance.”
And when it comes to a mentality problem, prevention must be focused. Much more than is the case now. “On offender prevention, on sex education. That is, of course, beyond the jurisdiction of a city. This should happen in education, for example. But cities can certainly help raise awareness. They can be campaigns visible in the streets. This makes combating sexual violence a widely supported project.”