In the General Hospital “Prim. Dr. Abdulah Nakaš” the first Outpatient Clinic for clinical treatment in cases of rape was opened, with which the Canton of Sarajevo took another important step in the establishment of systemic protection of persons who survived sexual violence.
“This is not just the opening of another clinic. This is a change in the way the system treats a person who has survived one of the most severe traumas,” the Canton Sarajevo Protocol and Public Relations Service announced.
As they explained, the victim no longer needs to go from institution to institution, from the police to the hospital, the prosecutor’s office and social services, to explain again and again what happened to her and go through her trauma again – now the institutions come to the victim.
“In one safe and protected place, medical examination and treatment, psychological and social support, forensic processing and coordinated actions of the police and prosecutor’s office are provided. The goal is to protect the victim, preserve her dignity and prevent additional traumatization,” the statement added.
The opening of the Outpatient Clinic was preceded by one of the key systemic steps – the Canton of Sarajevo was the first in Bosnia and Herzegovina to adopt the Protocol on handling cases of rape, which clearly links the institutions that must react in such cases and defines their coordinated action.
