Table of contents:
- The first should be done after experiencing sexual violence
- 1. Ensure personal safety
- 2. Call the police
- 3. Do not bathe or clean the body
- 4. If possible, go to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately
- 5. Write down all the details
- 6. Talk to other people
Sexual violence is any type of sexual contact based on coercion, threats of violence, which occurs without consent and is unwanted. Sexual violence includes rape and attempted rape, child abuse, sexual abuse, or threats. Sexual violence is a criminal offense across genders and ages. This means that women, men, adults and children alike can become victims and perpetrators.
While it can be difficult to know what to do, what to feel, or what your choices are for action after sexual assault, know that you are not alone.
Reporting from the BBC, the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) noted that in 2015 there were 321,752 cases of violence against women - meaning around 881 cases every day. Meanwhile, quoting Kompas, taking 2012 data from Ahmad Dahlan University, Yogyakarta, thirty percent of men in Indonesia have also experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime.
This article provides comprehensive information and advice to help you make the right decision and get the support you need.
The first should be done after experiencing sexual violence
1. Ensure personal safety
If you are a victim, go to a safe place as soon as possible. If you feel unsafe, consider contacting someone you trust for help. The same is true if you witness a victim of sexual violence. Take her away to a safe place, don't leave her alone, and offer to contact someone she can trust.
After experiencing sexual violence, you may feel fear, shame, guilt, or shock. All of this is normal. It can be scary to try to open up with other people about such acts of violence, but it's important to get help right away.
2. Call the police
Call the police immediately (110) if:
- You or the victim is seriously injured
- You feel or see signs of danger from the perpetrator. Reporting the crime will help you regain a sense of strength and self-control
- The victim is unconscious
Other emergency hotlines you can call:
- Emergency Services: 119
- Ambulance: 118
3. Do not bathe or clean the body
No matter how hard you want to clean your body, it is important not to brush, brush, rinse, wash your vagina or douche, brush your teeth, or bathe in the next 24 hours after experiencing the crime.
Don't change clothes and eat and drink, if possible. Or store the clothes, pants, and underwear you used when you were sexually assaulted in separate paper or newspaper wrappings for each item, not plastic bags.
All of this is important to do to protect any residual body fluids or DNA traces of the perpetrator that may stick, in order to make it easier for the police to process your case.
Also, don't clean or touch anything at the scene (if the act of violence occurs in familiar places, such as bedrooms, homes).
4. If possible, go to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately
Even if you do not have any other physical injuries that cause you concern, or you are not sure if you want to report the case to the police, you should still undergo a medical examination and discuss with your team of doctors the health risks of exposure to venereal disease and the possibility of pregnancy from sexual assault.
You can be given drugs to prevent transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, and get emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy. Having a medical exam is also a way for you to retain physical evidence of the procedure.
If you feel you have been sedated or forced to drink alcohol and illegal drugs, talk to hospital staff about running urine, drug, and poison tests.
Doctors and healthcare professionals will treat your medical needs confidentially, and they will not contact the police without your permission. However, the doctor will still record any test results and include them in your medical record.
5. Write down all the details
In the interest of the police processing your case - or even just in case, if you are unsure about reporting it - record any details you can remember about the situation leading up to and during the act of violence, including the physical characteristics of the perpetrator.
6. Talk to other people
Contact family, relatives, or close friends you can trust to support and accompany you throughout the entire process of dealing with sexual violence.
You can also talk to a counselor who is trained to work with victims of sexual crimes. Counseling can help you learn how to deal with the emotional and physical repercussions after experiencing trauma. You can find a counselor by contacting the nearest hospital, local legal aid agency, victim assistance agency, or crisis center.
Other hotlines you can contact:
- National Commission for Child Protection: Hotline 021-87791818 or 021-8416157
- Komnas Perempuan: 021-3925 230
- Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: 500-454
- Komnas HAM: 021-3925 230
If you have experienced sexual violence - of any kind - this can be a traumatic experience. Everyone reacts differently, and your feelings are likely to change over time. You are very likely to feel mixed emotions, such as fear, guilt, and anger. However, it is important to understand that being a victim of sexual violence is not your fault.
You can seek help immediately as soon as the sexual assault occurs or for days, months or years later, but the sooner the better.
