Medico-legal approach to sexual assault victims: The Belgian situation☆

Abstract

Clinical forensic medicine is a relatively new discipline in Belgium although (sexual) violence has been around for centuries. A brief overview of the Belgian legal system and the way it interacts with forensic medicine is presented, with special emphasis on the investigation of complainants of sexual violence.

The epidemiology of sexual violence in Belgium is discussed together with the procedures that were developed by the government to standardise the medical examination of sexual assault victims.

Keywords: Clinical forensic medicine, Sexual violence, Belgium, Sexual aggression set

a Centre of Forensic Medicine, University Hospitals, Minderbroedersstraat 12, Leuven 3000, Belgium

b Criminal Court, Leuven, Belgium

c Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium

d Department of Gynaecology, University Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium

Corresponding author. Tel./fax: +3216 336555.

☆ This paper is part of the special issue entitled “Sexual Offences”, guest edited by Dr. Guy Norfolk and Dr. Cath White.

PII: S1353-1131(06)00033-2

doi:10.1016/j.jcfm.2006.02.013

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