pro familia Offenbach | Emergency service for rape victims
EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
WHEN DID THE RAPE HAPPEN?
IT’S JUST HAPPENED.
Don’t stay on your own. Tell someone you trust. Let them assist you through the next steps. Only talk about the incident as much as you feel comfortable.
Seek medical care. You can call us – now or at a later date. If you want to go to the police, please read this.
THE RAPE WAS A WHILE AGO.
No matter how long ago the incident occurred, sometimes memories of bad situations reappear unexpectedly. Someone else’s story, suddenly seeing certain people again, a movie scene, a smell or a feeling can all trigger the memory. It’s a good idea to address it.
GET SUPPORT
We’re a counselling centre specialising in matters relating to rape, harassment and stalking. We want our counselling to provide you with the space you need for all your concerns. You decide what we talk about, and how often. Topics covered in a counselling session can include: ‘The rape was so long ago, I don’t understand why I suddenly start thinking about it.’ / ‘I can’t concentrate on anything else, and am having bad dreams.’ / ‘I want to get therapy, but don’t know who to contact.’ / ‘I’ve reported it, and don’t know what’s going to happen.’
You can contact us by calling 069 850 968 022. The line is not staffed 24/7, but you are welcome to leave a message. The machine is checked every working day, and we’ll call you back (always on a private number). You can also send us an anonymous email.
You can book an appointment in English or German. We can hire an interpreter for the session. You won’t incur any costs. Please advise us of this request when booking the appointment, so we can call in a trained interpreter.
CONVERSATION TIPS
If you want to talk to someone about the rape, choose somewhere quiet and make an arrangement beforehand about what you want from the other person (e.g. ‘I want you to first just listen to me without expressing your opinion or feelings.’)
Set a time frame for talking about the rape and then return to a more pleasant topic. Discuss whether and how you want to be contacted by this person in future about this matter.
Even if the rape was a while ago, it’s a good idea to seek medical care.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Doctors are bound by a duty of confidentiality. They cannot file any reports if they hear about a rape. It’s your decision whether you want to file a report or not.
Go to a gynaecologist you trust. Tell them about your rape, in as much detail as you wish. Tell them how you feel and whether you are experiencing any problems or discomfort.
Get tested for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV if necessary, and pregnancy. Bring your vaccination record with you to the appointment.
Visiting a doctor can also be helpful in the event of any potential legal proceedings if there is documentation to show you went to see them and what you told them.
If the rape was more than three days prior, there are unlikely to be any usable traces of DNA left.
If, however, you do still have visible traces of the rape on your body, or objects that may contain any evidence, please contact us.
If you’re thinking about filing a report, keep an account of whatever you remember about the event, if you can. This will be helpful if you want to give evidence later on.
Find a doctor you can talk to easily. You can also take a confidant along to interpret for you.
I WANT TO GO TO THE POLICE!
You don’t have to report the rape straight away. Once the police or justice system find out about it, a preliminary investigation will be initiated automatically, because it is an offence requiring prosecution. You can then no longer retract the report. The medical duty of confidentiality is lifted and doctors are required to give evidence before the court.
Take your time making this decision. You can store the evidence away safely and then, in your own time, think about whether or not you want to use this evidence in filing a report. You can read about the process involved here.
Find out what a report would subsequently entail for you. The statute of limitations for rape is 20 years. If you can, keep an account (in writing or as a voice recording) of whatever you remember about the event. This will be helpful if you want to give evidence later on.
You can talk to us about whether or not to file a report. We will be glad to advise you on this before you make your decision. We will explain the consequences of deciding for or against filing a report, and the potential criminal proceedings that ensue.
If you wish to report the offence, contact the K12 criminal investigation department in Offenbach on 069/809 80 (main switchboard) or 069/809 841 20 (extension). You can contact the stand-by criminal investigation service 24/7 on 06181/100 242. Book an appointment and clarify whether a female staff member will be available if you do not wish to speak to a man.
If you would like to file the report in your native language, please ask, when calling, for a person at the police station who can interpret for you. The police can hire an interpreter.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Even though injuries are often not visible on the outside, a rape is a medical emergency. Doctors and employees at hospitals are bound by a medical duty of confidentiality, which means they cannot call in the police without your consent.
It is important to know that contacting the police about a rape automatically files a report. But this is something only you can and should decide on. Your health fund generally does not receive any information on the rape either.
After a rape, you should seek care as soon as possible (within three days). Do not hesitate to contact either of the hospitals immediately – even if you don’t have any visible injuries
If it has just happened, go to hospital immediately (even at night). If the incident happened the day prior, ideally come during the day. Longer waiting times at hospitals are sometimes unavoidable – but the staff will do all they can do ensure you don’t have to wait longer than necessary.
Get someone you trust, and who can interpret for you if necessary, to accompany you.
WHERE SHOULD I GO?
Sana Klinikum Offenbach
Starkenburgring 66
63069 Offenbach
Emergency Department telephone number:
069 8405 7643
Website
Please report to the Emergency Department on the ground floor. If you call before hand, you may be able to reduce the time spent waiting on site.
Ketteler Krankenhaus Offenbach
Lichtplattenweg 85
63071 Offenbach
Daytime telephone number: 069 850 5377
Night-time telephone number: 069 850 50
Website
Please report to the admissions desk on the ground floor. If you call before hand, you may be able to reduce the time spent waiting on site.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE HOSPITAL?
At the hospital, you will be thoroughly examined. You only need to provide as much information as is important for the examination. Your health takes top priority. The doctors can test you for sexually transmitted diseases, and examine your blood and urine. A pregnancy test will be conducted if necessary. This examination is free, and the pharmacy will provide you with the ‘morning after pill’. If it is too expensive for you, pro familia Offenbach can cover the costs. Just call us.
The doctors will arrange an appointment with you for a follow-up check or will refer you to a registered gynaecology clinic.
Doctors at the hospital can save and store any forensic traces upon request.
The on-site doctors will ask you if you want forensic traces to be saved confidentially. This can serve as important evidence if you decide to file a report later on. If you wish to do this, you should ideally not wash yourself before the examination, and keep your clothing. Alternatively, you can bring these, along with any toiletries, bed linen or other things that may contain forensic traces, with you to the examination.
You do not incur any costs by opting for the forensic traces to be saved. The samples will be saved for a year and stored at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Frankfurt. The samples are automatically destroyed after this time.
COME TO US FOR ADVICE AND COUNSELLING
The hospital will refer you to our counselling services. You can contact us in person, by telephone or via the contact form to book a counselling appointment. You decide what and how much you want to tell us. If you would prefer not to tell us what happened, that is also fine. Sometimes it’s helpful just to talk about how you’re currently feeling and what your fears and concerns are. You can also think about what to do next, e.g. whether you want to lodge a report, how the people around you can support you, etc.
WHO CAN HELP ME?
You are entitled to seek support from a professional counsellor. Don’t try and do it on your own; make use of our service. Call us to book an appointment. You are welcome to bring a companion along with you. A good female friend, for example, can help collect information and just be there for you.
WHO ARE WE?
pro familia Offenbach is an accredited counselling centre that champions the sexual and reproductive rights of all persons. One of our focus areas is providing advice and counselling in cases of sexual violence, as well as emergency support services.
You will be able to book an appointment swiftly by calling 069 850 968 022. Outside our office hours, you can leave a message on our answering machine. We will call you back promptly, except on weekends. The female counsellors are bound by a duty of confidentiality and are all very experienced.
You can book an appointment in English or German. We can hire an interpreter for the session. You won’t incur any costs. Please advise us of this request when booking the appointment, so we can call in a trained interpreter.
WHO WE HELP.
RAPE VICTIMS
Our counselling service is available to all rape victims – women, men or members of the queer community – who are seeking help after experiencing sexual violence, whether this be sexual assault, a rape, sexual harassment or a threat.
We will advise and inform you, regardless of how long ago the violence occurred, how long it lasted (or has been going for) or whether you have reported it or not.
You don’t need to provide your name, and can also remain anonymous if you wish. The female counsellors are bound by a duty of confidentiality, and conversations are held in a quiet atmosphere behind closed doors.
The session is free, and follow-up appointments can be arranged. You can also bring someone to accompany you. We can arrange an interpreter if necessary. Please advise us of this request when booking the appointment, so we can call in a trained interpreter.
SUPPORTERS
You can also contact the counselling centre confidentially if you yourself have not been affected by a sexual offence, but wish to support someone.
You are welcome to come along to a counselling session to accompany the rape victim if they request this. Having a confidant there often eases the victim’s anxiety and stress.
WHAT IS SEXUAL VIOLENCE? WHAT ARE ITS DIFFERENT FORMS?
Any sexual acts or behaviours that are NOT mutually desired or which have not been consented to constitute forms of sexual violence.
This may include verbal attacks, such as salacious comments or lewd looks, harassment and assault, such as groping, as well as sending sexual content or pornography via digital media.
Rape is a particularly severe form of sexual assault that involves sexual penetration into the body of a person aged over 14 years.
Violence, threats or exploitation of a vulnerable situation are used to force the victim to endure sexual acts themselves or perform them on the perpetrator or another person. Rape is an offence requiring prosecution. This means the offence must be subject to criminal proceedings once reported to the police.
HOW WE HELP.
You can contact us in person or by telephone to book a counselling appointment. The counselling session can take place here at our counselling centre or by video/telephone. You can choose the format depending on what you most prefer. You decide what you want to talk about.
We will discuss medical and health issues relating to the sexual offence, and can help you access medical care. We will provide you with information on (social) legal matters, and will also advise you on your decision to file a police report or not. We additionally offer psychological support (one single session or multiple appointments).
We can arrange an interpreter if necessary. Please advise us of this request when booking the appointment, so we can call in a trained interpreter.
