Introduction
The first International Conference on Survivors of Rape was held in Aarhus, Denmark on November 14th - 15th in 2008. The conference had a multi disciplinary approach.
By presenting research on the mental and physical consequences of rape, on different models of treatment of survivors of rape, as well as on the work of the police and the legal system, the organisers hoped that the conference would lead to some answers on how to make sure that rape survivors are offered the best forms of care and support - medically, psychologically as well as judicially.
There were 183 participants from 18 countries and 4 continents. However, most of the participants came from the Scandinavian countries.
The multidisciplinary approach
All the different professions that the conference aimed to reach were represented among the participants. The international expertise in the audience as well as on the stage shared their knowledge across the borders of disciplines and nations and made the conference a success.
The participants were generally delighted with the multi disciplinary approached. The programme, with its many angles on rape, gave a good overview of the complexity of rape, and of the many professions involved in dealing with rape survivors.
Nevertheless, some of the participants asked for parallel sessions with the possibility to chose from different presentations. The organisers had decided not to have parallel sessions, as one of the main aims of the conference was to improve cooperation between different professions. Therefore they wished to increase the knowledge on other disciplines by presenting all the speakers to all of the participants.
Organizing committee
The First International Conference on Survivors of Rape was organised by the Sexual Assault Centre at Aarhus University Hospital in co-orporation with the Department of Psychology, Aarhus University, the Institute of Forensic Science, Aarhus University, the Department of Gynaecology at Aarhus University Hospital and the Police District of Eastern Jutland.
The members of the organizing committee
Ask Elklit, Dept. of Psychology, University of Aarhus
Anja Hareskov Jensen Sexual Assault Centre, Aarhus University Hospital,
Annie Vesterby, Inst. of Forensic Medicine, University of Aarhus
Bodil Clemensen, Emergency Dept., Aarhus University Hospital
Ole Brink, Dept. of Orthopaedics, Aarhus University Hospital
Bjarne R. Kristensen, Dept. of Gynaecology, Aarhus University Hospital
Sara Parding, Sexual Assault Centre, Aarhus University Hospital
Feedback
The participants were generally satisfied with the program. In the evaluation after the conference, the programme received an average of 3.9 on a scale between 1 (very poor) and 5 (very good).
The participants' own words:
"All in all a very good program - lots of interesting speakers, covers all aspects of rape."
"Multidisciplinary approach, good mixture of presentations. Inclusion of war rape. Some of the presenters raised ‘critical' questions. Quite empathetic rather than clinical approach."
"I liked that it was multi-disciplinary and gave equal time to many different perspectives. I liked that there were experts from so many different fields."
The organisers' eagerness to make room for all the different perspectives, however, caused the programme to be rather tight. Some of the participants called for more time for questions, discussion and networking:
"It would have been nice with more room for wider discussions including more of the members of all the different professions present."
"Very hectic programme - not enough time for questions, discussion. Would parallel sessions be a good idea?"
Abstract and Powerpoint Presentations
Psychotic Symptoms in Rape Survivors: Signs of Trauma, not Psychosis.
Andrew Moskowitz Clinical Department of Mental Health University of Aberdeen
Post-Rape Health Care Use: A Case Control Study.
Ask Elklit, University of Aarhus & Mark Shevlin, University of Ulster
Health services for Adult Women after Sexual Assault. Berit Schei, MD, Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
How police interviewing works - Interviewing techniques and police questioning of suvivors of rape.
Gitte Christensen, Detective Inspector, The Police District of Eastern Jutland
Cognitive behavioral group treatment for adolescent girls after single rape: STEPS
Iva Bicanic, UMC Utrecht The Netherlands
The criminal proceedings of rape cases in Denmark.
Lasse Lund Madsen, Associate Professor, Aarhus University
School of Law
Stockholm South Hospital Emergency Clinic for Raped Women.
Lotti Helström, MD PhD. Anna Möller, MD, Kristina Pettersson, Med Stud, Klara
Ravald Med Stud.
Prevention of Sexual Violence: What Works? Mary P. Koss, University of Arizona USA
Sample North American Rape Prevention Materials Mary P. Koss, University of Arizona USA
Interpersonal Violence Agendas: Consensus on Action Steps
Mary P. Koss, University of Arizona USA
Using Restorative Justice Approaches to Address Sexual Assault.
Mary P. Koss, University of Arizona USA
Legal concequences of sexual violence
Ole Ingemann-Hansen, MD, PhD, Institute of Forensic Medicine,
University of Aarhus
Rape investigations across borders
Preben Juel Hansen, Independent adviser, Former Detective Chief Super Intendent
Teenage Sexuality in Denmark Reporting on Sexual Norms and Coercion among Adolescents
Rikke Holm Bramsen, MSc Psychology., PhD-fellow
When Contact Leaves a Trace: The Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation of DNA Evidence
Leif Schiønemann, Detective Inspector, National Centre of
Forensic Services, Crime Scene Unit, Biological-section, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Hans Jakob Larsen, PhD, Section of Forensic Genetics, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen.
Nursing at the Sexual Assault Centre in Aarhus and Boston.
Vicky Bredkjær Larsen, Nurse, Sexual Assault Centre, Emergency Department, Aarhus University Hospital
