Valentine's campaign raises awareness of sexual violence

On Valentine’s Day, about 100 women, men and children will be raped, just like every other day. With that shocking message, equal opportunities state secretary Elke Sleurs is hoping to raise more awareness around sexual violence in Belgium.

The figure of 100 per day is based on the number of official reports – about 10 per day – and the assumption that 90% of cases go unreported. The main goal of the campaign is to convince more victims to report the crime. “It’s the only way to make sure that perpetrators are tracked down and punished,” equal opportunities spokesperson Jeroen Lemaitre told Het Nieuwsblad.

Sleurs chose Valentine’s Day, on 14 February, to get the point across. “We want our message to reach as many people as possible,” said Lemaitre. “In many cases, victims know the perpetrator well.”

Tim Smits, marketing and communication expert at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), says that the campaign can help victims to move forward. “Sometimes people think that rape takes place in a grey zone,” he said. “But it’s not because unwanted sexual contact takes place in a relationship, for example, that it’s not abuse or violence.”

Liesbeth Kennes of victims association Wij Spreken Voor Onszelf (We speak for Ourselves), however, fears that many people will be put off by linking sexual violence with Valentine’s Day. “While we need everyone to convince victims to report the violence,” she said, “I think a positive call would have had more effect.”

Photo courtesy Seksueel geweld