Since 2021, it has been possible to undergo a medical examination at the RKH Klinikum Ludwigsburg following a rape and have evidence secured in court - anonymously and without the direct involvement of the police. This gives victims time to decide in peace and with support whether and when they want to take legal action.
Forensic evidence is collected in a forensically sound manner and under high standards of confidentiality. The collected material is anonymized and handed over to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Heidelberg, where it is stored for one year (for adults) or until the age of 19 (for minors), depending on age. In addition to medical care, the service also provides access to psychosocial counseling and aftercare.
Strong cooperation for sustainable support
The service is made possible by the close cooperation of various institutions in the district: the health department with the head of department Dr. Uschi Traub and Mandy Bronner, the advice centers Frauen für Frauen e.V. and Silberdistel e.V., the RKH Klinikum Ludwigsburg and the district's equal opportunities officer, Cynthia Schoenau, who helped initiate the project. Among others, senior physician Iris Georgiadou from the women's clinic is responsible for the medical implementation. At the meeting, Dr. Karlin Stark, Head of the Health Department, and Prof. Dr. med. Sebastian Berlit, Medical Director of the Women's Clinic, emphasized the importance of establishing this sensitive care as an integral part of the healthcare landscape in the district.
The project is based on a model developed by the Frauenennotruf Frankfurt and is now active at four locations in Baden-Württemberg - in Heilbronn, Pforzheim and the Rems-Murr district in addition to Ludwigsburg. The district of Ludwigsburg is taking on a pioneering role here by not only continuing the project, but also actively developing it further.
Advice centers and contact options
There are two specialized counselling centres available in the district for those affected: Silberdistel e.V. for young people up to the age of 20 and Frauen für Frauen e.V. from the age of 21. Both offer free and confidential advice - anonymously and in several languages if desired.
If you have any questions about the project or require further information, please contact Dr. Uschi Traub, Head of Health Promotion in the Health Department of the Ludwigsburg District Office, or Mandy Bronner, by telephone on 07141 144-2520 or by email at gesundheitsfoerderung[at]landkreis-ludwigsburg.de. Further information can also be found at www.soforthilfe-nach-vergewaltigung.de
