Information for survivors

Information on the asylum procedure
  • According to the EU Asylum Reception Directive, being affected by sexualized violence is a reason for being granted a special need of protection.
  •  This applies to persons "who have suffered severe forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence" (Art. 21 EU Reception Directive 2013/33/EU).
  •   This video (in German) explains what special vulnerability means: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CyLFbYIIIY
  •     Being in need of special protection can be a ground for a protection status in the asylum procedure and thus affect your asylum procedure.
  •     You have the right to be heard by a Special Representative for Victims of Torture and Traumatized Persons.
  •     You have the right to adequate accommodation based on your needs.
  •     You have the right to appropriate medical and psychological treatment, e.g. in a psychosocial center for refugees and victims of torture.
  •     In order to use your rights, it is important that you tell someone that you have experienced sexual violence
    • e.g. in your hearing in the asylum procedure
    •  e.g. in a psychosocial or legal counseling center
  •     At Refugee Law Clinics you can find support to claim your rights: https://home.refugeelawclinics.de/2022/11/22/rlc-standorte
  • Officially, the federal states are responsible for health care in Germany. The federal states have largely passed on responsibility to the municipalities.
  • Who exactly is responsible for your health care and what benefits you are legally entitled to depends on how long you have been in Germany.

Residence under 18 months:

  •  For people who have been in Germany for less than 18 months and are in an ongoing procedure or have been granted a Duldung, the municipal social welfare authority is responsible.
  • You have a right to the necessary health care, e.g. in case of acute illnesses, pain conditions, or pregnancy.
  • If your special need for protection has been recognized, you already have a right to psychotherapy. The authorities may not refuse this.

Residence over 18 months:

  • For people who have been in Germany for more than 18 months, the health insurance funds and the social welfare office are responsible. However, they are still not members of the statutory health insurance.
  • They are entitled to analogous benefits, i.e. approximately the same benefits as persons who are insured in the statutory health insurance.


After a positive asylum decision and/or when taking up a job or training:

  • The persons become members of the Statutory Health Insurance.
  • They have the same rights to health care as all other members of the Statutory Health Insurance.


This video (in German, English subtitles available) explains health care rights and options again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb9Ee7uYngY
At Refugee Law Clinics, you can find assistance in claiming your rights: https://home.refugeelawclinics.de/2022/11/22/rlc-standorte/

  • If you have been affected by sexualized violence, you are considered to be in need of special protection under the EU Reception DirectiveAs a person in need of special protection, you have a right to appropriate accommodation.
  • If you do not feel safe in your current place of residence, for example because you are afraid of your roommates, then you can obtain other accommodation on the basis of your special need for protection.
  • People who can support you in this are, for example, social workers in shared accommodation or counselors in psychosocial centers.
  • If you are acutely affected by violence in your living environment, you may be able to live for a time in a men protection facility. This usually only applies if you already have a residence permit.
  • Here you can find an overview and contact information for men's protection facilities in Germany:
Symptoms
  • People who have experienced severe violence often suffer from the stressful memories of the event. Sometimes they also feel as if they are reliving the event at that moment.
  • Shortly after the triggering event, the emergence of intense memories is a normal process.
  • However, if the distressing memories recur over a long period of time and are also difficult to contain, this indicates a trauma sequelae disorder, or mental illness.
  • These disorders are to be taken as seriously as other illnesses - and are just as treatable. Psychotherapy has been shown to help people cope with the psychological consequences of such traumatic events.
  • If it is possible, seek help. Seek out a counseling center and/or talk to your doctor about it.

 

 

  • People who have experienced severe violence often suffer from sleep disorders. They cannot fall asleep or wake up frequently at night.
  • Nightmares are also common. These may be directly related to the event. However, dreams with other, frightening or unpleasant content may also occur.
  • Shortly after the triggering event, it is normal for sleep patterns to be altered and for occasional nightmares to occur.
  • However, if the sleep disturbances and nightmares recur over a long period of time, this indicates a trauma sequelae disorder, or mental illness.
  • These disorders are as serious as other illnesses - and are just as treatable. Psychotherapy has been shown to help people cope with the psychological consequences of such traumatic events.
  • If it is possible, seek help. Go to a counseling center and/or talk to your doctor about it.
  • Feelings that are apparently not directly related to the traumatic event may also occur afterwards.
  • Depression and anxiety are the most common emotional symptoms in people who have had traumatic experiences. However, anger, nervousness, restlessness, numbness and feelings of alienation can also occur.
  • Emotions are in themselves a normal part of the human experience, and it is also normal to develop negative feelings as a result of a stressful event.
  • As a result of traumatic events, however, the negative feelings can become so strong that those affected can no longer cope with them and suffer greatly as a result. This is a signal that a mental illness is present.
  • These illnesses are to be taken as seriously as other illnesses - and are just as treatable. Psychotherapy has been shown to help people cope with the psychological consequences of such traumatic events.
  • If it is possible, seek help. Seek out a counseling center and/or talk to your doctor about it.
    • Here is a list of our cooperation partners, perhaps there is a counseling center near you among them.
    • They know the local contact points, doctors, psychotherapists and psychologists who can help you.
    • Under the heading "Self-help" you will find more information on trauma and dealing with trauma symptoms.
  • Very many people who have experienced sexual violence experience impairments in their relationships/family life.
  • Family life can be additionally burdened by other difficult experiences, e.g. experiences on the run or challenges in the country of arrival.
  • If it is possible for you to seek counseling or therapy, you can also address such issues. In the long term, professional support can help
    • For family problems, you can turn directly to specialized agencies (e.g., family counseling centers (called "Familienberatungsstellen" in German). These can often offer earlier appointments than the psychosocial centers.
  • If you have acute physical symptoms, such as incontinence, bleeding, inflammation, etc., immediately contact a medical professional in your area, e.g. a general practitioner.
    • These physical symptoms can significantly affect your health and need immediate treatment!
  • Many people who have experienced sexual violence also experience impaired sexuality beyond physical symptoms or no longer feel comfortable in their bodies.
  • Issues related to sexuality and one's own body sensation can be addressed in counseling or therapy.
  • If you wish, your partner can usually be included in the counseling as well.
  • The counselors/therapists can also refer you to other counseling centers if, for example, questions of gender identity or sexual orientation are involved.
  • An acute crisis is, for example, when you inflict physical injuries on yourself, or when you increasingly think that you do not want to go on living, or already have concrete ideas or even plans about how to end your life.
  • If you have an acute, serious mental crisis, you can always be temporarily admitted as an inpatient to the psychiatric hospital responsible for your place of residence!
  • To do this, you can go directly to a psychiatric outpatient clinic in your city, contact your family doctor or, in an emergency, call an emergency doctor.
  • Emergency phone number: 112 (everywhere in Europe)
  • If you want to talk about what is bothering you at the moment, there is the telephone counselling service. Here a conversation is only possible in German.
    • Phone number telephone counselling: (+49)0800/1110111 and (+49)0800/1110222
  • If you would like to speak in another language or live outside of Germany, here is a list of international helplines:
Support
  • In principle, unfortunately, it really is the case that your chances of receiving adequate care will improve if you can speak German or English. However, there are other solutions.
  • There are special psychosocial centers in Germany that offer therapy and counseling either directly in your language, or that provide therapy or counseling through the use of language mediation.
  • Generally, there are legal ways to request language mediation for therapies. But this is an elaborate bureaucratic process that often causes problems. In addition, not all psychologists and therapists are willing to work with language mediation.
  • In some places, however, there are more straightforward model solutions. The best way to find out what the situation looks like in your area is to contact a local counseling center.
  • Unfortunately, the supply situation is currently very limited. It can often take several months, sometimes even up to a year, from the request to a counseling center or psychotherapist to the start of therapy.
  • The exact duration depends on how the supply situation is in your area. It is best to ask at a counseling center near you.
  • Despite the waiting time, it makes sense to register for a place. This is because the psychological consequences of violent experiences can last for a long time.
  • Often, bridging offers are possible, such as individual preparatory sessions at longer intervals. It is also best to ask your local counseling center about this.
  • If you have an acute, serious mental crisis, you can always be temporarily admitted as an inpatient to the psychiatric clinic responsible for your place of residence!
    • For this purpose, you can contact a psychiatric outpatient clinic in your city directly, report to your family doctor or, in an emergency, call an emergency doctor.
  • Emergency phone number: 112 (everywhere in Europe)
  • If you want to talk about what is bothering you at the moment, there is the telephone counselling service. Here a conversation is only possible in German.
    • Phone number telephone counselling: 0800/1110111 and 0800/1110222
  • If you would like to speak in another language or live outside of Germany, here is a list of international helplines:
  • All persons who work in medical and/or psychological care are subject to the duty of confidentiality in Germany. This applies to doctors, psychologists, social workers, language mediators, nursing staff and all other employees in a facility.
  • The staff is not allowed to disclose any information to the outside world that would allow conclusions to be drawn about your stay at the respective care center.
  • Topics discussed in therapy or counseling do not leave the therapeutic framework. In particular, this means that other patients or people from outside will not be informed about what you have discussed there (i.e. not even your family). However, it is common for staff to discuss issues as a team in the field, especially if multiple people are involved in your care. However, your counselor or therapist will educate you about this. If you are unsure, address the issue of confidentiality openly.
    • Breach of confidentiality can have criminal consequences. If a staff member discloses information about you against your will or without your knowledge, he or she can be reported and punished.Your information must be treated confidentially!
  • Unfortunately, such services do not yet exist. However, we hope that there will be specialized care offers in the future and are committed to this.
  • If you are interested in networking with other affected men, please feel free to drop us a line at malesurvivors-crsv(at)medizin.uni-leipzig.de. We can then inform you when appropriate services are created or, if you wish, network you with other male survivors.
  • Yes, even if you yourself have already become a perpetrator, as a person affected you may turn to the care institutions and seek help.
  • You can also decide for yourself whether and when to disclose this topic.
  • If you report your perpetration in the context of therapy or counseling, the obligation to maintain confidentiality applies here as well, i.e. the staff member of the facility may not pass on any information to the outside world against your will.
    •  However, if you acutely endanger someone else, e.g. by being violent towards your children, then therapists/counselors are allowed to pass on this information in order to protect the children.