Domestic violence and sexual transgressive behavior occur across all societal strata and often have a significant impact on victims, perpetrators, their surroundings, and the sense of safety in the city. Due to shame, fear, dependency, or persistent taboos, many situations remain hidden or are not reported. The City aims to actively combat this and ensure that victims find their way to support services more quickly.
The action plan for Sexual Transgressive Behavior (SGBV) focuses on better prevention, faster recognition, and appropriate handling. The City supports professional partners and key figures with networks and training, paying attention to new phenomena such as the manosphere and online hate speech. The campaign ‘No means no, only yes is okay’ will have a permanent place at urban events, and taxi drivers will receive additional training. Attention is also given to gender and safety reflexes in public spaces, with signal collection through safety walks, focus groups, and a digital platform.
Targeted campaigns aim to break taboos and make help accessible. Bystander training teaches professionals and citizens to prevent and address unwanted behavior. In nightlife areas, information coaches monitor for signs of SGBV and refer visitors to appropriate services. The Reporting Point for Transgressive Behavior remains an important point of contact during the Ghent Festivities.
The action plan for Domestic Violence (IFG) strengthens professionals and key figures who come into contact with potential victims. Through training, expertise exchange, and networking, they learn to better recognize, discuss, and appropriately refer signs of violence. The BARST tool will be further rolled out in education, youth welfare work, and youth care. Awareness campaigns aim to break myths and taboos surrounding IFG and encourage the reporting of violence. Ghent Police is focusing on specialized reception to increase willingness to report, with rapid interventions for acute threats of stalking.
Both action plans will be discussed at the FABAZ committee meeting on November 16.
