The campaign "Start by Beliving" generated in the US a complex reform of the justice system
PRESS RELEASE
Constanta, 16 April 2024
Professionals in the field of clinical examination of child victims of sexual violence from the United States of America will exchange experiences with Romanian forensic doctors and nurses in a marathon of April, celebrated overseas as Child Abuse Prevention Month. "I Choose to Believe You!" is an adaptation of the "Start by Beliving" campaign which, since 2011, has sparked comprehensive reform of the justice system, as well as medical and support services for victims of sexual abuse and exploitation in the United States.
Forensic services and institutes in 18 counties will be visited by Janice Ceccucci, a forensic examiner researcher and trainer from New York, and members of the team of the Association for Victims of Sexual Crimes, namely Mihaela Chiper - President, Dr. Ligia Bărbării - founding member and head of the genetics laboratory at the Mina Minovici National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bucharest, and Lorena Tarlion - scientific coordinator and former judge with 27 years of experience in criminal matters. The aim of these meetings is to identify and understand the needs of professionals in the national forensic medicine network, with the ultimate goal of creating the necessary spaces to adapt procedures for responding to sexual victimisation and specialisation in interacting with vulnerable victims.
The programme includes visits to the forensic network offices in Constanța, Călărași and Ialomița (16 April), Argeș and Vâlcea (17 April), Sibiu, Alba and Hunedoara (18 April), Arad and Oradea (19 April), Mureș, Cluj and Bistrița (22 April), Suceava and Iași (23 April), Vaslui, Bacău, Vrancea (24 April), as well as two training days in partnership with the Order of Nurses, Midwives and Nurses of Bucharest and the Order of Social Workers of Bucharest (25 and 26 April).
Victims of sexual violence need to feel safe and supported when disclosing abuse. International studies show that the offence is reported days, weeks, months or even years late because of fear of the perpetrator (22%), shame or embarrassment (18%), because victims do not consider it a crime (18%) or because they fear the authorities will not believe or blame them (25%).
Decades of research show that sexual violence is pervasive and devastating for victims, their loved ones and the wider community. Yet the majority of victims of sexual violence do not report the offence or seek support. International research suggests that only 5-20% of victims file criminal complaints and less than half seek medical care or a forensic certificate. In the US, between 16% and 60% of victims of sexual violence access mental health services, depending on their ethnic group or background.
In Romania, even when the abuse is documented, victims of sexual violence are rarely referred to medical and mental health services.
If you want to talk about sexual violence with a professional ready to help, send an email to: help@asistentavictime.ro
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