Simply put, sexual violence is when someone does something of a sexual nature to you that you do not want them to.
This can be anything from sending inappropriate messages on Snapchat to physical abuse. It can be physical, but it doesn't have to be. Sexual violence is an umbrella term that covers many kinds of inappropriate sexual behaviour.
There are a wide range of different types of sexual violence. There is specific terminology for some kinds of sexual violence, but not for every kind. The most important characteristic of sexual violence is that it involves someone violating your boundaries without your permission. Everyone's boundaries are different, so you yourself are the judge of when you have experienced sexual violence.
This may sound a bit vague to some people. For this reason, you may encounter people who respond to your experience as a victim/survivor with confusion or ignorance. Boundaries may be different for everyone, but that doesn’t mean other people get to decide what your boundaries are or should be. No-one is allowed to do anything to you that you don’t want them to. They are also not allowed to do anything without your knowledge (which applies, for example, when someone has been drugged). It is never your fault if someone violates your boundaries.
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There is no one correct way to handle a traumatic sexual experience. Whatever the situation, you are in charge of deciding what you want to do.
If you are experiencing difficulties and would like to discuss them with someone, do so in a way that makes you feel safe, listened to, and comfortable. Always listen to your feelings when you are deciding who to speak to. You may want to discuss things with someone close to you, someone from the university, or a professional.
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There can be benefits to talking about your experience with a friend or family member you trust. Talking to someone can help you feel less alone. It can also be reassuring to know that there is someone you can call when you feel bad.
At the same time, you don’t have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to. You don’t owe anyone a conversation about an upsetting experience.
If you do decide to entrust someone with your story, it can be helpful to prepare for the conversation beforehand. That gives you the opportunity to think about what you do and don’t want to share. You can tell people as much or as little as you like.
Thinking about how you expect people to react can be helpful, too. People don’t always know how to react to being told about an upsetting experience. While you always hope for the best reaction, it can be useful to prepare for different responses so that you don’t feel blindsided if you are faced with them.
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Seeking professional help can be a nerve-racking step. Finding someone who can help you isn't always a hole in one. Sometimes people talk to a number of different professionals before they find the person who is the right fit for them.
You are not alone in this. There are a number of different support options available at the university. And if you want to look for support outside the university, we are happy to help you find it. You can find an overview of the different options within and outside the university on our support page.
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If you have been the victim of a sexual offence, you may be wondering whether or not to take legal steps.
In that case, and even if you already know that you want to take matters further, we recommend that you contact the Limburg police sexual offences team (tel. 0900-8844). Doing this enables you to gather information about deciding whether or not to inform the police, providing an initial account, and filing a report.
If you are looking for help – whether medical, psychological, or in making a report – get in touch with the Sexual Assault Center (CSG). The experts who work there can advise you what to expect from a forensic examination (to identify and record any injuries and/or evidence resulting from the crime). They will also offer you options for additional support.
It is important to get in touch as soon as possible after the incident. You can contact either the police (if you would like the police to be involved) or the Sexual Assault Center. It is recommended that you do this in order to identify and record evidence (within 7 days) and to receive treatment for HIV (within 72 hours).
Something that you may want to consider is that once you file a police report, it is not always easy or possible to withdraw it. The public prosecutor may also decide to pursue the suspect independently after hearing an initial account. This is because the public prosecutor’s role involves making a risk assessment pertaining to the public interest.
You are not required to file a police report. If you decide to go this route, you should be sure that it is what you want to do.
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The first time you contact the police, you won't be making a police report yet. Before you make a report (“aangifte doen”), you need to inform the police of the incident (“melding doen”). Doing so means that you want to let the police know something has happened. When you call the police, you’ll let them know that you want to inform them of an incident.
They will then put you in contact with the sexual offences team. Based on what you tell them on the phone, they will assess whether the situation concerns a punishable offence. This determines whether or not you can make a report. If they believe this is a possibility, they will invite you to share an initial account. This can be done by telephone, but you can also make an appointment to share your initial account at the police station. In an initial account, you give a general outline of your experience, but don’t go into details. Based on your account, the police will discuss which next steps are or are not possible with you.
In some cases, it may not be clear whether you will be able to file a police report. If this is the case, the detectives will need to consider it further internally. If filing a report is an option, an appointment to do so can be arranged right away. Of course, you may want some time to think it over first. If so, you will have 1–2 weeks to decide whether you would like to do so. If filing a report is not possible, it is usually still possible to go through the process of informing the police. This can help the police take action in future, for example if multiple people file a report or provide information concerning the same person.
If you would like support or assistance in making the report, you can also speak to the Dutch victim support service Slachtofferhulp Nederland. They can give you advice about things like lawyers specialising in sexual abuse cases, and are sometimes able to accompany you to the police station to make a report.
Staff from the Sexual Assault Center can also accompany you if you decide to make a police report.
If you want to contact the police directly, call 0900-8844. The police can take calls in several languages, and there is a telephone interpreting service available.
Werkgroep INKOM
Tapijn Loods V Learning Spaces
Tapijnkazerne 3
6211 ME, Maastricht
043 - 3885335
Mailbox 616
6200 MD Maastricht
inkom@maastrichtuniversity.nl
