2023-09-26 04:50:15
Over the past three weeks, the 1712 helpline has received around 820 calls regarding violence, abuse and child maltreatment. This represents an increase of 31% compared to last year, it said Tuesday.
According to Wim Van de Voorde, Flemish coordinator of the helpline, this increase in the number of calls is due to media coverage of the Sven Pichal affair, named following the 44-year-old former VRT radio presenter. suspected of possessing and disseminating images of child abuse. This increase would also be due to the fallout from the broadcast in Flanders of a documentary on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
1712 is a free, anonymous helpline for anyone who has questions regarding violence, abuse and child maltreatment. In total, callers reported nearly 1,100 victims. Most of the calls concerned violence within the family.
Dozens of cases of abuse in schools, boarding schools, youth institutions and others have also been reported
The significant media coverage of sexual abuse in recent weeks therefore seems to encourage victims to contact 1712, analyzes the hotline.
Most of these victims are victims of child abuse. The hotline has also received significantly more calls regarding victims of sexual violence, just over half of whom are minors.
The child helpline in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation is 103
1695711507
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