Ms Ines Keygnaert

Sexuality in transit zones: sexual health of migrant men and young people in transit zones in Belgium and France

In 2022, more than 45 000 migrants, of which the vast majority are single men, succeeded to reach the United Kingdom (UK) by crossing the perilous English Channel.

Gender sensitivity in credibility assessments of asylum applications based on sexual and gender-based violence

This research will analyse gender sensitivities in credibility assessments of asylum applications based on sexual or gender-based violence.

Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence and Female Genital Mutilation Support Program

ELEVATE: EarLy dEtection of cerVical cAncer in hard-to-reach populations of women through portable and point-of-care HPV TEsting

The ELEVATE consortium wants to empower women to screen for their cervical cancer risk in any setting while guaranteeing rapid and easy-to-understand results

Exploration and development of a violence reporting code

Training general practitioners in addressing domestic and sexual violence in primary care

Sexual and intrafamilial violence are a major public health problem worldwide.

Implementation of a practical guideline for general practitioners in addressing domestic and sexual violence in primary care

Sexual and intrafamilial violence are a major public health problem worldwide.

Gender sensitive primary care in Flanders

Domus Medica wants to sensitize, inform and educate general practitioners to provide gender-sensitive, holistic and person-centred care with specific attention to the LGBTQI+ group

Disability and sexual violence

The research project, titled ‘Disability and Sexual Violence’, was commissioned by the Flemish Government - Agency for Internal Affairs - Department of Equal Opportunities, Integration & Immigration - Equal Opportunities Team, to investigate the prevalence of sexual violence among individuals with disabilities in Belgium.

Training on sexual violence for employees and partners of the Family Justice Centers and the Chain Approach to Domestic Violence

Evaluation of the existing assistance landscape for perpetrators and potential perpetrators of sexual violence

Sexual violence is an important social problem that affects public health and well-being. Recent research in the Belgian population showed that all genders and all age groups are vulnerable to sexual violence.

The role and needs of general practitioners in counselling victims of domestic and sexual violence in primary care in Belgium

Sexual and intrafamilial violence are a major public health problem worldwide.

The Belgian Sexual Assault Care Centres: from piloting to evaluation

Subsequent to ICRH’s feasibility study on the development and validation of a model of holistic care for victims of sexual violence in Belgium, the Federal State Secretary of Equality assigned ICRH to pilot and evaluate Sexual Assault Care Centres (SACC) in Ghent, Brussels and Liège.

Online opleiding rond seksueel geweld voor justitie-assistenten binnen Slachtofferonthaal

Online opleiding rond seksueel geweld voor advocatuur/Juridische eerstelijnsbijstand

Online opleiding rond seksueel geweld voor zorgverleners binnen ziekenhuizen

ENABEL & LUXDEV SEA

The Belgian development cooperation Enabel and the one of Luxemburg LuxDev aim to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and have appointed focal points to implement these SEA policies in each of their partner countries. In order to guide the agencies in their development and implementation of SEA policies as well as to train their focal points well in acting as professional persons of trust that can adequately welcome and accompany victims of SEA.

Inclusive Holistic Care for Migrant victims of sexual violence (INHeRE)

Migrants, Applicants of International Protection and Refugees (MAR) are at high risk of sexual victimization (SV) at all stages of their migration trajectory. An integrated holistic approach from detection to follow-up has been recognized as the best care for all victims of SV.

Chatline for victims of sexual violence and their support figures: development and pilot study

This project aims to make aid as accessible as possible to victims of sexual violence and their support figures. In a first phase the feasibility of a phone- and chatline was researched and a model was developed. Subsequently, the piloting of the chatline model was requested by the Belgian government. The piloting consists of two main parts. The first part holds the launching of a chat service for victims of sexual assault and their support figures. The chat service was launched on April 10th 2019 and aims to bring victims of sexual violence in touch with a SACC or other specialized caregivers.

Relationships, Stress and Aggression during the COVID-19 crisis in Belgium (RSA)

To contain the COVID-19 pandemic, governments worldwide restricted social and physical contact by issuing lockdown and social-distancing measures. Already  a few weeks after the first COVID-19 realted lockdown being issued in Belgium in March 2020, Prof Keygnaert (UGent-ICHR) and Prof Vandeviver (UGent-IRCP) set up a study on Relationships, Stress and Aggression (RSA) in times of COVID-19 crisis in Belgium. This longitudinal self-reporting study was stopped in July 2020 and got lots of attention as it demonstrated high levels of stress, rather unhealthy ways of coping and a lot of domestic violence occurring in Belgian households.

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.

Academic network for sexual and reproductive health and rights policy (ANSER)

Ghent University established an Academic Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policy that aims to become a global resource for SRHR policy research, education and service delivery by establishing an international platform for research on SRHR policy related topics; by developing a portfolio of education and training programmes on SRHR policy; and by fostering interaction between SRHR researchers and policy makers.

Access to health care for undocumented migrants in Belgium: SWOT analysis of the procedure of urgent medical aid

This project aimed at providing an in-depth analysis of the current practice of Urgent Medical Aid (UMA) for Undocumented Migrants (UM) in Belgium.

Feasibility & Desirability study of Sexual Assault Reference Centres in the Province of Eastern Flanders

This small scale study aimed at assessing the desirability and feasibility of applying ‘sexual assault reference centres’ among the hospitals in the Province of Eastern Flanders that dispose of an emergency care unit and the possibility to conduct medical forensic activities. All 14 hospitals that match those inclusion criteria were invited to participate in the study.

Addressing interpersonal violence in Belgian hospitals

This project aims to sensitize and train health workers in Belgian hospitals in addressing, assisting and referring patients in interpersonal violence situations adequately. However, due to budgetary restrictions, the different project pathways had to be altered offering only advanced trainings and protocol development coaching to hospitals already included in the project in the previous year (2010-2011).

Seminar ‘Prevention of sexual & Gender-based Violence in the European Reception & Asylum Sector’: 10 September in Brussels

Within the European reception facilities; asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors as well professionals reveal to be vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Yet, no specific prevention tools, codes of conduct nor standard operating procedures in prevention and response of SGBV in this sector exist.

Addressing Interpersonal Violence within a Hospital Context

This project aims to sensitize and train health workers in Belgian hospitals in addressing, assisting and referring patients in interpersonal violence situations adequately.

Frame of Reference in SGBV Prevention Against and Among Young Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Unaccompanied Minors in the European Reception & Asylum Sector (SENPERFORTO)

Applying a Community Based Participatory Research Approach, Senperforto aims to enhance the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the European Reception and Asylum sector by the development of a European Frame of Reference for Prevention of SGBV in this sector. In 2010 we first conducted a Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Survey on SGBV experience, prevention and response among both professionals and young asylum seeking residents in different reception facilities in each of the 8 partner countries.

A participatory partnership for prevention of sexual violence against transmigrants in Morocco

Objectives: To research sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against trans-migrants in Morocco who aimed or are still aiming at moving on to Europe, in a participatory way To raise awareness about SGBV against trans-migrants among different Moroccan and European stakeholders and the prevention needs and possibilities To empower trans-migrants in preventing SGBV

Hidden Worries

15 women acting as “network seeds” of which are: 3 undocumented migrant, 3 asylum seeking, 3 refugee, 3 migrant and 3 native women are trained on Sexual and Gender-based Violence, the importance and role of networking in prevention and taking photographs An intercultural network of at least 45 women sharing their experience with SGBV and their prevention needs An exhibition with 15 photographs covering the network of each network seed woman A world café with politicians and other stakeholders on SGBV and the prevention of it

EN-HERA! The European Network for the Promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Europe & beyond

Objectives To set up a network for the Promotion of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers among different stakeholders involved in SRH for refugees and asylum seekers To gradually expand the coverage by the network of the EU area to at least 13 EU Member States To develop a framework for the identification of good practices in SRH policy development for refugees and asylum seekers, SRH services for refugees and asylum seekers and participatory approach of SRH of refugees and asylum seekers To set a common research agenda on SRH of refugees and asylum seekers in the EU To organise an international seminar on SRH of refugees and asylum seekers in the EU To publish and disseminate the project results

Development of a prevention tool to combat violence against refugees in Europe: a participatory approach

Objectives: To research sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against refugee women and girls in Europe in a participatory way To develop a prevention tool which can be used by refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants in Europe To raise awareness about SGBV against refugees among the general European public To empower refugee women and girls and to involve men equally