Twitter platform #BalanceTonWilly urges rape victims to share stories

A Brussels sociology student has started a Twitter platform for rape victims in the city to share their stories, with the hashtag #BalanceTonWilly.

It has already amassed more than 7,000 followers in under a week, and the young woman behind the platform says she is already receiving about 200 testimonies a day.

The anonymous student hopes #BalanceTonWilly will have a liberating effect for victims to share their sexual abuse stories.

"There’s too much sexual abuse in Brussels these days," she said. "I’m thinking about stuff like revenge porn and rapes. I've heard far too much of it in recent times."

She added: "At #BalanceTonWilly, male and female victims can testify about abuse. That, consequently, should result in victims finding support with each other, and daring to bring their story to the police."

Brussels police have already responded with a tweet, urging victims to file a formal police complaint about the abuse they share on the platform.

Not all of the stories submitted are published. "I only want to publish actual testimonies," its founder said. "For instance, I consider accounts that were created two days ago suspect, and leave them out."