UN-MENAMAIS: Understanding Mechanisms, Nature, Magnitude and Impact of Sexual Violence in Belgium

The UN-MENAMAIS research aims at a better understanding of the mechanisms, nature, magnitude and impact of sexual violence in Belgium.

Sexual violence is a major public health, judicial and societal concern in Belgium. A comparative and representative study is however still lacking. UN-MENAMAIS aims to contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms, nature, magnitude and impact of sexual violence on female, male and transgender victims, their peers, offspring, professionals and society in Belgium and to generate policy recommendations and prevention and response strategies. A consortium consisting of ICRH and IRCP at Ghent University, Université de Liège, the National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology, Respect Seniors and the Institute of Equality of Women and Men will realize the 5 core objectives of the project:

Objective 1 Map how citizens and migrant residents in Belgium, aged 16 -100 years, with different sexual orientations, frame sexual violence.
Objective 2 Explore to what extent the research population has been subjected to sexual violence or has perpetrated sexual violence since childhood.
Objective 3  Map indicatory pathways of how this exposure impacted the lives of victims, their family and peers and professionals they contacted for assistance.
Objective 4  Evaluate the forensic sexual assault practices performed by professionals.
Objective 5 Formulate recommendations for future policies and practices and provide sensitization scripts.

A mixed methods methodology will be applied. Elements are a literature review, a representative survey on sexual violence victimization and perpetration, in-depth interviews with victims, a survey and focus groups with professionals, and a seminar with a Café Dialogue with professionals and victims to generate policy recommendations and sensitisation scripts.

The project runs between May 2017 and April 2021, and is funded by BELSPO through the Belgian Research Action through Interdisciplinary Networks (BRAIN) program.

Closing seminar: ‘Beyond the tip of the iceberg: Sexual violence in Belgium’ on the 17th
 of June 2021. Agenda and recordings: CLICK HERE 

Final report: click here

Policy briefs and capsules: click here