Anne-Marie Vos, investigator of sexual violence cases

17-11-2022

“In the past years I’ve been working as a specialist of sexual violence at the Rotterdam police, and I’ve been searching for alternative ways to deal with cases of sexual violence. Sometimes the criminal justice system is not a good solution for cases that are reported to us, and people are better helped with an alternative approach.”

“A few years ago I ended up on the website of Perspectief Herstelbemiddeling. I got excited about the things I read there, and I attended one of their experience days, where they showed people what restorative mediation is like and how it works. I was immediately impressed about how professionally and carefully they do these mediations. I understood that at that point, not many cases of sexual violence were being registered with Perspectief Herstelbemiddeling, but I saw opportunities for several sexual violence cases for which restorative mediation could be a good alternative.”

“Over the past years I’ve been working throughout the country to draw more attention to the ways in which Perspectief Herstelbemiddeling could help in cases of sexual violence. What followed were training days in the sexual violence departments, and now the possibility of restorative mediation by Perspectief is mentioned to and used by many more victims.”

Expectations of victims

“We as police have to be mindful of the expectations and needs of the victims that make reports with us, and that requires personalized help. For one person that involves the criminal justice system, for another that involves different kinds of help, and perhaps for some people it could involve Perspectief Herstelbemiddeling and restorative mediation. It is important that victims can take back control over their lives in a way that works for them. That’s why it’s good that we offer them a variety of options.”

“It offered me a lot, especially peace and clarity.”
Esther* (49) experienced sexually transgressive behavior when she was a student. She tucked the experience away and hid from it, but the memory of that night recently resurfaced. She decided she needed to do something about it, and applied at Perspectief to get in contact and talk with the other person about what happened.
Hannah about restorative mediation after sexual abuse (incest)
In her childhood, Hannah was sexually abused by her father. Recently, she talked to her mother and father with the help of a mediator. 'I got sincere recognition from my father. I could calmly explain to him how the abuse had affected me.'
Sonja: “I’m okay with him.”
Sonja got in contact with the man who raped her almost 20 years ago. “I feel more calm,” she says. “I can run into him in the street now.”