CZK 2.3 billion a year is spent from public health insurance on treating the effects of sexualised violence. This is according to new research by the proFem - Centre for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence, o.p.s. and MindBridge Consulting a.s. According to the research, 58% of women have experienced some form of sexualised violence. One in five women (20%) reported specific experiences of rape. 76% of rape victims mentioned the impact on their mental or physical health, relationships, studies, work or even life-threatening consequences. Women who experienced rape under the age of 15 almost all stated that it had had a negative impact on their lives (93% of respondents).

The results of a representative survey of 5,042 women aged 18-65 in the Czech Republic were published by ProFem o.p.s. on the occasion of the European Day of Victims of Crime, drawing attention to the seriousness of sexualized violence.

"Our unique research has filled a gap in the available data on sexualised violence: we have concrete quantification of the health care and treatment costs of some of the impacts of this violence. Although the suffering and pain of victims cannot be quantified, it is an important indicator of how serious and widespread the problem is," says Jitka Poláková, Director of proFem, o.p.s.

"The research also showed that victims often face different long-term impacts on their mental health, relationships, work, and studies. Specialized services such as those we provide at proFem play an indispensable role in supporting victims and addressing these impacts. We help victims in the process of healing and coping with the consequences of the violence they have experienced. In doing so, we prevent the psychological and physical impacts from deepening and help reduce the cost of further treatment." Poláková adds.
 

"ProFem analysis has shown that the costs of sexualised violence are enormous. It confirms that investing in the prevention of such violence is not only the right thing to do, but also economically rational. Therefore, I consider it important that the Government, in accordance with its action plan for the prevention of gender-based violence, ensure that sufficient funding is allocated for prevention and for ensuring the availability of specialised services for victims. It is also essential to educate all professions that come into contact with victims in order to prevent further traumatisation and to ensure that the assistance provided is as sensitive and professional as possible," said the Government Commissioner for Human Rights, Klára Laurenčíková Šimáčková.

More on the impact of sexualised violence

Research has shown that victims face these impacts: 

• psychological consequences (e.g. increased sensitivity, decreased self-confidence, self-respect, feelings of guilt); 
• chronic illnesses, i.e. illnesses that persist over a long period of time and require repeated medical care or limit normal daily activities, both psychological chronic illnesses (e.g. depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks) and physical chronic illnesses (e.g. migraines, indigestion, back pain);
• social impacts (e.g. dropping out/interrupting studies, work disability, loss of friends);
• impacts on reproductive health (e.g. STIs, infections, unplanned pregnancies);
• life-threatening consequences (e.g. suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt(s)). 

For example, in the case of rape (experienced at any point in their lives), respondents reported: 62% psychological and related consequences, 44% social consequences, 39% chronic diseases (30% psychological chronic diseases and 23% physical chronic diseases), 20% reproductive health impacts, and 12% life-threatening consequences.

Research has also shown that violence experienced before the age of 15 has a deeper impact on victims and survivors. For rape experienced by respondents when they were under 15, 78% reported psychological consequences, 62% chronic illnesses, 58% social consequences, 33% reproductive health impacts and 28% even reported life-threatening consequences. Contrary to the widespread assumption about physical injuries, the research showed that only 5% of respondents who had experienced rape in their lifetime and 8% of those who had experienced it before the age of 15 had suffered them.

Health care and treatment of the effects of sexualised violence

Research has also focused on the treatment of the health impacts of sexualised violence: chronic diseases, reproductive health impacts, injuries, and psychological consequences. Approximately 123,550 women are seeking this treatment each year. The annual cost of this treatment from public health insurance is CZK 2.3 billion. This amount does not include the victims' own expenses, such as the reimbursement of medicines or care beyond the scope of health insurance. The largest part, over CZK 1.7 billion, is the cost of treating the psychological consequences.

The research also found that 32% of women did not turn to medical help even though they needed it as a result of the violence they experienced.

Source, infographics and photo: ProFem o.p.s. - read the full press release here (CZ language only) 

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More about project: Development of the Platform for Assistance to Victims of Sexual Violence

The project Development of the Platform for Assistance to Victims of Sexual Violence is supported by the Norwegian Funds 2014 - 2021 through the Human Rights Programme. The aim of the programme is to improve the human rights situation (including domestic and gender-based violence) and to fight discrimination and extremism in the Czech Republic. The Programme supports the implementation of human rights standards in the Czech Republic. It is also directly aimed at supporting vulnerable groups at high risk of discrimination and social exclusion, such as Roma.

More about programme: Human rights programme
More about: EEA and Norway Grants 
 

Project name:	Development of the Platform for Assistance to Victims of Sexual Violence
Project promoter:	ProFem, o.p.s.
Project partner:	MindBridge Consulting a.s.
Programme:	Human Rights
Grant:	CZK 4 112 797
Objective of Project:	The system of assistance to victims of sexual violence is fragmented, not coordinated in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region, and individual organizations and institutions often treat victims inappropriately: they misinterpret their actions, do not understand the manifestations of trauma, and minimize the violence. The system of assistance thus places an extreme burden on victims, discourages them from addressing their situation and often fails to address sexual violence appropriately.  In response to this problematic situation, this project aims to contribute to the effective establishment of interdisciplinary cooperation in the field of assistance to victims of sexual violence by strengthening the capacity of the existing Platform for Assistance to Victims of Sexual Violence and transferring the experience of this Platform to the wider system of assistance. This is provided through - expansion of the data base; - training and competence development of professionals; - methodological anchoring of the Platform - informing interdisciplinary cooperation and know-how transfer