PORT - the first centre for victims of sexual violence in the Czech Republic - opened in Prague's Břevnov quarter on 22 January 2024. It offers a wide range of support services all under one roof.

In response to the crucial gaps in the support system and the lack of care for victims of sexual violence, proFem is launching a pioneering centre that will provide services to victims of sexual violence and sexual harassment, both those focused on their current and long-term needs. PORT's goal is to improve the quality of care for victims, reduce the risk of retraumatization, and provide victims of violence with appropriate support for the healing process and coping with the trauma they have experienced. In doing so, it also seeks to contribute to the broader goal of improving social understanding and support for victims and survivors of sexual violence.

One in two Czech women (54% of women, proFem 2021) experience some form of sexual violence or harassment. The most recent and unpublished research by proFem shows that as many as 20% of Czech women have experienced rape. "However, we know from our long-term experience that many victims are hindered from addressing their situation and improving their psychological state by systemic barriers, stigma and a profound lack of specialised support. Existing services are fragmented and the professionals who provide them often have very little awareness of sexual violence and its impact. This then leads to re-traumatisation of victims and to further harm," explains Jitka Poláková, Director of proFem, the motivation behind the creation of PORT centre.

People who have experienced sexual violence face long-term consequences of the trauma that affect their psyche, emotions and physical health. Yet they are expected to recover in a system that does not acknowledge this and does not address their individual needs and situation. "The PORT Comprehensive Centre is the solution: it offers structured and specialised support, a wide range of services based on our long-term experience of working directly with victims, professional resources and inspiration from abroad, as well as cooperation with other institutions and actors in the support system (hospitals, police)," adds Poláková.

"I am very happy about the opening of the PORT centre and I thank the proFem team for successfully completing this challenging task. The number of victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence in our country has been increasing in recent years. Last year over 900 cases of rape were reported to the police, the highest number ever. The availability of specialised services such as the PORT Centre is absolutely crucial to ensure that we are able to help all victims in a timely and professional manner. I would very much like to see similar centres gradually being established in every region. However, this will not be possible without a strong political commitment. That is also why we need to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, which includes a commitment to establish such centres for victims," says Klára Laurenčíková Šimáčková, Government Commissioner for Human Rights    

A fundamental principle of all PORT services is a sensitive approach to victims, respecting their individual needs and pace. Coping with the effects of trauma is not a one-size-fits-all process, and must always begin with an understanding and sensitive response to the needs and wishes of individual victims. Through PORT services, it is fundamentally changing the way we help victims.

Clients can find the following services at PORT:

• CRISIS HELP: is short-term support focused on the "here and now" and improving the current experience when the client feels overwhelmed by emotions, does not know how to go on, or is unable to perform normal activities.
• SOCIAL COUNSELLING: helps the client to orient herself to her situation, map her needs and plan steps to make her better. The social worker is the client's guide on the path to change and eventually to other PORT services.
• CRISIS ROOM: a safe space to stabilize the client, for up to 7 nights.
• LEGAL COUNSELING AND REPRESENTATION: helps the client navigate their rights and the legal avenues available to them. We will help arrange legal representation and accompaniment to court so that she is not alone at trial.
• INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY: to support the client's mental stability, understanding of her own emotional experience and sense of self-worth and self-awareness.
• INTERVIEW ROOM: allows you to conduct a police interrogation of the victim in the safety of the PORT, and at the same time record an interview with the client, which will be sensitively and professionally conducted by our trained staff. If she decides to report the crime, this interview can be used as evidence.
• COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF LABORATORY SAMPLES AND EVIDENCE: will be available without the need to immediately decide whether the client wishes to report the crime. Evidence and samples will be sensitively collected and carefully stored by us.
• STD TESTING: to detect possible infection with sexually transmitted diseases. We will provide resources and information for their treatment.

 

PORT was supported by the Human Rights Programme, funded through Norway Grants 2014-2021. "I am proud that Norway has contributed to the establishment of this centre and I am glad that the Norwegian Crisis Centre in Fredrikstad has been selected as a partner. We must work together to ensure that women and children are not exposed to sexual violence and can live safe and healthy lives. I hope that Czech-Norwegian cooperation in the fight against gender-based violence will continue in the coming years, both within the new EEA-Norway Funds Agreement and beyond." says Victor Conrad Rønneberg, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway in Prague.

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway in Prague, H.E. Victor Conrad Rønneberg, at the opening ceremony of the Port

The creation of PORT was also supported by other partners - a complete list can be found here.

Project info: Centre for Victims of Sexual Violence

 

How to order:

by phone at +420 608 22 22 77 every weekday from 9 am to 3 pm,

by e-mail to poradna@profem.cz

CRISIS INTERVENTION WITHOUT AN ORDER: Mon, Tue, Thu 9:00-18:00, Wed, Fri 9:00-15:00 (last client 30 min before the end of working hours). No paperwork required to use PORT services. Services are provided discreetly and confidentially. Most services can be used anonymously.

The address of the Port Centre is Břevnovská 1692/6, 169 00 Prague 6.

More info: www.profem.cz