Victimization of Applicants for International Protection Residing in Belgium: Sexual Violence and Help-Seeking Behavior

Lotte De Schrijver (), Anne Nobels, Jonathan Harb, Laurent Nisen, Kristien Roelens, Tom Vander Beken, Christophe Vandeviver and Ines Keygnaert
Additional contact information
Lotte De Schrijver: International Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Anne Nobels: International Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Jonathan Harb: International Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Laurent Nisen: CARE-ESPRIst, Études et Évaluations, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Kristien Roelens: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Tom Vander Beken: Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law, Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Christophe Vandeviver: Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law, Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Ines Keygnaert: International Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-24

Abstract: Background: Sexual violence (SV) literature on applicants for international protection (AIPs) shows that they are at high risk of victimization. The study objectives are to provide an exploratory overview of the occurrence of SV in AIPs in Belgium and their help-seeking behavior (HSB). This overview is crucial to develop prevention strategies and care paths focusing on providing adequate care to AIP SV victims in Belgium. Methods: Quantitative data from structured interviews with AIPs ( n = 62) triangulated with qualitative data from in-depth interviews with AIP SV victims ( n = 11) served to explore the nature and impact of SV in AIPs in Belgium and their HSB. Results: A total of 83.9% of respondents have experienced SV. A total of 61.3% were victimized within the past year. Victimization seems more gender-balanced than in the general population. AIPs link SV to their legal status and their associated vulnerable situation. HSB upon SV was very limited in this sample. Help-seeking barriers interfering with the decision-making process to consult (in)formal resources were identified. Conclusions: AIPs in Belgium are at high risk of SV. Despite the impact of SV on AIPs’ lives, HSB upon SV is rare. The provision of age-appropriate sexual education and development of policies that will reduce help-seeking barriers is needed.

Keywords: sexual and gender-based violence; migrants; refugees; asylum seekers; Europe; prevalence; Belgium (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/19/12889/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/19/12889/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12889-:d:936408

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().