Anne was raped, and afterwards at the Brussels Care Centre for victims of sexual violence could not be helped in Dutch. She could speak to care workers in French or Portuguese, "but I could not tell a story like that in French, especially not at a time when I was emotional and panicking". Her testimony again reveals the painful language situation in the Belgian and Flemish capital.
"I was raped on a Friday night." These are the words of Anne. It’s not her real name. We are protecting her identity. The young woman lives in Brussels and testifies how she was raped a few weeks ago: "I said I did not want sex, I said he was hurting me, I also pushed him away from me physically, but he kept going."
Afterwards, panic and guilt alternate, she says. "You think it's your fault, that maybe you didn't make it clear enough. Whereas rationally I knew I had said that several times."
"The next morning, I walked into my flatmate's room and started crying. It took me almost 24 hours before I wanted to call it 'rape' myself, because it's hard to admit to yourself that something so serious has happened."
On Sunday morning, a little more than a day later, Anne decides to go to a Care Centre for victims of sexual violence. There are now 10 in Belgium. Established on the philosophy that victims can go to one and the same place for a range of care: from medical care and forensic investigation to filing a complaint and psychological support.
French or Portuguese, possibly English, but no Dutch
The nearest care centre is in Brussels, attached to the UMC hospital. "My housemate called to ask if I could go there. She asked if she could have the conversation in Dutch. The answer to that was already "no". Then she asked if I could be helped in Dutch, and they also said "no". They said that at that time they only had people who spoke French and Portuguese, and that I could wait until Monday. Then someone who spoke English would be available."
Anne did not see the point of telling such a delicate story in French or English. "In general terms, maybe, but many, many details are asked. It’s not easy to do an interview like that. You have to mention every moment, say what happened every minute, who initiated what, intimate details are asked. These are not things I can do in French, and certainly not at a time when I am very emotional and panicking. Then you want to relate everything in your mother tongue."
There is also normally an option to work with an interpreter, but Anne was not offered that opportunity. "I don't know if I would have done it either, that's more impersonal and uncomfortable anyway."
No other choice but to head to Leuven
Knowing how important it is for the examination to be carried out as soon as possible, Anne decided to go to the Leuven Care Centre.
"Actually, to some extent, I was already late, although they didn't want to put it like that in Leuven. Wounds had already healed; I had already showered. The sooner you go, the better. Going two days later it creates a much bigger problem than going one day late."
The whole incident makes her angry and indignant. "I live in the capital. So it makes sense to me that I can be helped in Dutch."
"Just for practical reasons, it's not so easy to get to Leuven, because we don't have a car. So I had to seek help from other people, at a time I didn't really want to talk to other people about what happened. Also emotionally, those first days after the rape I didn't dare to leave my door. Even just going to the baker's had me in panic. There's quite a threshold to going to a care centre anyway, one in your city is easier to visit than one in another town. It's not fair that I have to go somewhere else because I live in Brussels and speak Dutch," she concludes.