▲ Sunflower Center


After the spread of COVID-19, there is a growing controversy that victims of sexual violence are repeatedly unable to receive immediate help from the Sunflower Center, a victim support organization.



The Sunflower Center, which has entered its 10th anniversary this year, was established to provide one-stop, 365 days a year counseling, medical, legal, and investigation support to victims and their families who have suffered from sexual violence, domestic violence, and prostitution.



Currently, there are 39 sunflower centers nationwide (15 for crisis support type, 7 for child type, 17 for integrated type), which are operated in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, local governments, and the National Police Agency.



However, there have been cases in which the institution did not receive immediate help due to quarantine rules.



On the 15th of this month, a minor, A (18), visited a sunflower center in Seoul to report sexual assault damage, but was denied entry because her body temperature was measured at 37.5 degrees Celsius at the entrance.



Even in a situation where she was mentally and physically unstable immediately after the damage, Miss A asked, "I may have an ear infection and a high body temperature, so please (take the temperature) one more time." ' he replied.



In the case of sexual assault, the key to proving the damage is to obtain direct evidence left on the victim's body as soon as possible.



In addition to Miss A, in April of last year, sexual assault victim B visited another sunflower center in Seoul, but was denied access to the center because she momentarily showed symptoms of high fever unrelated to Corona 19.



Kim Jae-ryun, a lawyer at Onsegae Law Firm, said, "Even though the police officer who accompanied him protested, I could not enter the center, and the victim was able to collect evidence after suffering from anxiety until the next evening."



In some cases, reports of damage were abandoned in response to the center's passive response. An official from a sunflower center in Seoul also said, "I delayed collecting evidence due to a high fever, but the victim gave up on making the case."



Jo Eun-hee, director of the victims' protection facility attached to the Korean Sexual Violence Counseling Center, said, "The first people the victim meets after the incident are the Sunflower Center, emergency room officials, or the police." The experience of being rejected at once is a great frustration for the victim.”



Some have pointed out that they are neglecting their responsibility to support victims while only advocating the government quarantine guidelines that recommend a corona diagnosis test when the body temperature exceeds 37.5 degrees.



In response, the center and the police say that there is no big problem as long as the '72 hours', the golden time for collecting evidence, is observed.



A police official said, "If 72 hours is likely to exceed for various reasons, you can wear protective gear and collect evidence, but if the center determines that it is not urgent, the collection can be delayed."



Lee Seung-duk, a professor of forensic medicine at Seoul National University, said, "72 hours is an inevitable deadline, and you should not be fooled by the number."



Even though the Corona 19 situation has continued for the second year, it is known that the 'Corona Response Guide' distributed to each center in the second half of this year stipulates that the collection of evidence can be delayed if a client has symptoms suspected of Corona.



An official from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said, "We will supplement the manual so that the hospital can identify wards that can be isolated immediately in case of a crisis that may be faced in the process of supporting victims."



This is a 'news pick'.



(Photo = Sunflower Center official website capture)