Victims of sexual assault in Belgium find support in a pioneering, centralized initiative

Europe

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Issued on: 03/07/2026 - 16:22

04:27 min

From the show

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1 min

While the Lyhanna case in France has exposed the shortcomings of a fragmented system for dealing with sexual violence against minors, Belgium stands as a model with its Centres for the Care of Sexual Violence (CPVS). The centres are based on a simple principle: a victim only has to walk through one door to find a doctor, forensic nurse, psychologist and specialized police officer – all in one place. Born from a pilot project in three hospitals, the model proved convincing with its scientific results from the first evaluation. In 2020, the government decided to roll it out nationwide.

In three years, the number of reports made through the CPVS has quadrupled. Today, an average of 11 people come to them every day. FRANCE 24’s Alix Le Bourdon and Dave Keating report.

By:

Dave KEATING

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