Government Advisor Hamer published the results of the study on sexual abuse. Hamer noted that these behaviors are “part of the culture.”
Following the cases of “abuse and sexually offensive behavior” in Ajax and The Voice of the Netherlands, Mariëtte Hamer, appointed by the cabinet as a government adviser, announced the results of her work on the subject. “Sexually aggressive behavior is a common and structural problem and is now part of our culture,” Hamer said in a statement.
Hamer, who gave advice on national approaches to the problem, also stated that there should be a cultural change and the issue should become talkable. Emphasizing that there should be a better approach to sexual misconduct, Hamer said that policies to combat these behaviors often do not work.
“Sometimes I find that the current legal system is too little or not enough,” said the Government Counsel, adding that he believes the focus should be more on ‘prevention’. That’s why sex education in schools and codes of conduct at work need to be improved, she said.
In Hamer’s study, in which “the effects, causes and solutions of sexually aggressive behaviors” were discussed, it was noted that many unwanted sexual behaviors took place in the “grey area”, while those who engaged in these behaviors were not punished by law, but were seen as “crossing the limits” by many.
“A large number of unwanted, sexually suggestive acts are not a criminal offense, but in a given context, many of us experience it as sexual aggression.” said Hamer, “What do we see as right and what do we see wrong? “We need to talk to each other about this,” he said.
Stating that everyone, as a victim, perpetrator or eyewitness, encounters these events, Hamer drew attention to the fact that such sexual abuses and aggressive behaviors occur everywhere at home, at work, on the internet, in a sports club, in a bar and on the street.
According to Hamer, such behaviors are; It stems from the way society is structured, the way people interact with each other, and it has become “part of the culture”.
Emphasizing that the issue should be discussed in every field in order to overcome the problem, Hamer stated that a cultural change can be created in this way and said, “The solution lies in a strong cultural change.”
“We must move towards a society where we treat each other on an equal footing, respect the boundaries of others, dare to set our own limits, and address each other without blindfolding those who witnessed these events,” the government adviser published in his work. said.
Hamer also; He also states that the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports, and the Ministry of Justice and Security should jointly initiate a “National Action Programme”.
Sexually offensive behavior in the Netherlands
In the study published by Mariëtte Hamer, the data obtained from the cases in the Netherlands were also shared.
According to these data;
1 in 10 women and 1 in 25 men experienced physical sexually aggressive behavior.
More than 1 in 6 women and 1 in 20 men have experienced non-physical sexual aggression.
The number of victims of sexual aggression on the Internet is 1 in 8 women and 1 in 19 men in men.
Young people are more victims of physical sexual violence. 1 in 5 young people between the ages of 16-17 and 1 out of 5 young people between the ages of 18-24 are victims of sexual violence.
At least 62 percent of the victims state that they have been affected by sexual abuse, and 44 percent have had to seek psychological support.
7 out of 10 people who have been subjected to physical sexual violence in the last year told their boyfriend/girlfriend (50%), spouse (27%) or another family member (14%). Only 8% received professional help and 1% reported to the police.