Immediate help after rape: Medical care without the need to report
Together with the gynaecology department at Frankenberg District Hospital, the specialist service for women and equal opportunities in the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg and the round table "Together against domestic violence" are sending out a strong signal against sexualised violence. Since 2016, the district has been one of 14 model regions in Hesse that offer immediate medical care to victims of rape - without the victims having to report the offence to the police.
In the gynaecology department at Frankenberg District Hospital, the team offers a confidential point of contact for women who have been raped. There they are discreetly provided with the necessary medical help and empathetically cared for. The traces of the crime are stored anonymously in the forensic medicine department in Giessen for up to a year, so that victims can still file a complaint at a later date. "Our aim is to pave the way for those affected to receive confidential and comprehensive medical treatment. On request, our specialists can secure injuries and traces of the offence, which are then stored for a year. This option gives women the time and space to decide for themselves whether and when they want to report the offence," said Karl-Friedrich Frese, First District Councillor of the Waldeck-Frankenberg district.
In 2023, a total of 16 rapes were reported in the district. However, various studies show that only around five to fifteen per cent of women report a rape and do not always seek treatment. "Medical care is important in order to treat injuries, rule out health risks and provide safety for those affected. My appeal to all victims: Put your trust in us - we offer you a safe place and empathetic treatment," explained senior physician Gabriele Schalk. "Statistically speaking, 160 people are affected. We therefore wholeheartedly support this important initiative by the district. We want to give the women affected a voice and show them that they are not alone and that they can receive important medical care here at the district hospital," added Margarete Janson, Managing Director of the district hospital.
The better known the offer of immediate medical help after rape, the sooner those affected can be helped. This is why information postcards, combined with free menstrual products, are being distributed in the district's pharmacies and other institutions. "It was important to us to combine the information on emergency medical aid with a practical benefit. These info postcards, which contain a tampon on the back, make it possible to have important information to hand in an emergency. At the same time, by distributing the free period products, we want to draw attention to the fact that some people cannot afford menstrual products and provide direct support to those affected," explained Miriam Drüppel from the Women and Equal Opportunities Service. The period products are largely provided free of charge by the company Periodically. Periodically is committed to making period products accessible to everyone and removing the taboo surrounding menstruation.
The initiative is supported by the Hessian Ministry for Social Affairs and Integration and the Hessian Pharmacists' Association. Further information on this topic can be found on the website www.soforthilfe-nach-vergewaltigung.de.
Caption:
(from left to right) Owner of the Eder pharmacy, Dr Johannes Benner, Miriam Drüppel and Beate Friedrich from the Women and Equal Opportunities Service, Managing Director of the district hospital in Frankenberg Margarte Janson and First District Councillor Karl-Friedrich Frese. Photo: Frankenberg District Hospital