“Unexpected slumps” among those affected

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Victims of sexual violence suffer especially from the pandemic. The associated infection control measures can mean very specific psychological and social burdens for those affected.

This was the result of an investigation by the Commission for the Reappraisal of Sexual Abuse published on Thursday. Thus, the generally ordered measures could trigger feelings of powerlessness and helplessness. The wearing of protective masks is partly experienced as a trigger and retraumatizing by those affected. Consequences could include "unexpected slumps" among those affected.

Also relieving elements of the pandemic

At the same time, the results also showed that the measures taken in the pandemic can have positive effects. Thus, contact restrictions in the form of both social and physical distance, could provide relief from social demands. This would create spaces of rest and freedom that could be used for recovery and coming to terms with one's own history.

The reappraisal commission had conducted the online survey of 9. June to 5. July 2020 conducted among victims of sexual violence in childhood and adolescence to learn how the Corona pandemic was experienced by affected people during the period of contact restrictions. Accordingly, 823 people took part in the survey.

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