LCQ15: Government attaches great importance to needs of sexual violence victims
*******************************************************************************
Question:
According to the Information to Adult Sexual Violence Victims published by the Hong Kong Police Force in June this year, when victims of sexual violence, after making a Police report, have been sent to any public hospital for consultation and treatment and if the situation allows, they may choose to give their witness statements and undergo forensic examinations in the same hospital. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether victims of sexual violence may give their witness statements and undergo forensic examinations in any public hospital at present; of the places in a hospital where victims of sexual violence in general give their witness statements and undergo forensic examinations;
(2) whether victims of sexual violence may first go to a public hospital on their own for consultation, then make Police report, give their witness statements and undergo forensic examinations there;
(3) of the criteria adopted by the Police for determining whether a situation allows victims of sexual violence to give their witness statements and undergo forensic examinations in a hospital, and the respective situations that allow and do not allow such arrangements; and
(4) whether it has assessed if the places and facilities in various public hospitals where victims of sexual violence give their witness statements and undergo forensic examinations conform to the relevant guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO); if it has assessed and the outcome is in the affirmative, of the details of such places and facilities, and whether it can furnish the relevant photographs to this Council; if the assessment outcome is in the negative, whether the authorities have plans to upgrade such places and facilities so that they comply with WHO's relevant guidelines; if they have such plans, of the implementation timetable?
Reply:
President,
The Government attaches great importance to the needs of sexual violence victims. In respect of sexual violence cases, police investigation will be conducted in such a way that the victims will not be further traumatised. The Police will also introduce to the victims the counselling and support services of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) and other relevant non-governmental organisations. Subject to the victims' consent, the Police will arrange for referrals to appropriate follow-up services.
To provide victims reporting sexual violence cases with relevant information in a timely manner, the Police compiled the "Information to Adult Sexual Violence Victims" in June this year. It explains the victims' rights and the procedures that they may have to go through while assisting the police investigations. This includes the arrangement under the One-Stop Service Model that a victim, upon being sent to a public hospital for medical services after making a report, may choose to give a witness statement and undergo forensic examinations at the same hospital if the situation allows. This service model has been put in place since 2007. It features a multi-disciplinary approach to ensure close co-operation and collaboration amongst various professionals for the provision of a customer-oriented and one-stop service, which enables the victims to receive services and go through relevant procedures in a convenient, safe, confidential and protected environment, thus minimising the need for them to repeat their unpleasant experience. For the implementation of the service model, the SWD, in collaboration with related social service units, the Hospital Authority (HA), the Hong Kong Police Force and the Forensic Pathology Service of the Department of Health etc, has formulated an effective workflow and the "Procedural Guidelines for Handling Adult Sexual Violence Cases".
The consolidated reply, prepared in consultation with the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Food and Health Bureau, to the Dr Hon Fernando Cheung's question is as follows:
(1) At present, if an adult sexual violence victim chooses to give a witness statement and/or undergo forensic examinations at the same time when receiving medical services in any HA public hospitals with Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments, the Police will make arrangements accordingly.
Urgent medical services are provided at all A&E departments of HA hospitals for victims of sexual violence where necessary. With the victim's consent, the designated nursing staff and/or medical officer will, ensuring the protection of the victim's privacy, arrange a suitable place in the A&E department for the forensic pathologist to conduct forensic examination and the Police to take a statement.
(2) Upon receipt of a report by a victim (whether reported to the Police before the victim is sent to a public hospital or when the victim is receiving medical services at the A&E Department of a public hospital), the Police will, in the light of the circumstances of the case, explain to the victim the investigation procedures and his/her rights. Should the victim opt for the one-stop service, the Police will make appropriate arrangements for the victim to give a witness statement and/or undergo forensic examinations at the same hospital.
(3) Whether a victim will give his/her statement and undergo forensic examination at the same hospital is subject to the preference of the victim and the professional advice of the medical officers.
(4) According to the Guidelines for Medico-legal Care for Victims of Sexual Violence of the World Health Organization, the place for statement-taking and forensic examination should be private, clean, secure and with 24-hour accessibility to necessary services to provide victims with the necessary protection. The A&E departments under the HA provide round-the-clock service with police officers on duty and strict infection control measures in place to ensure protection in the above-mentioned aspects.
According to the "Procedural Guidelines for Handling Adult Sexual Violence Cases" issued by the SWD, if the victim has reported the case to the Police, the Police will arrange forensic examination when situation warrants. If it is necessary to collect evidence at the hospital, the HA will arrange a suitable place for the forensic pathologist to conduct forensic examination and the Police to take a statement. In case forensic examination has to be performed in the examination suites of the Forensic Pathology Service, the Police will arrange transportation and provide escort service for the victim.
Ends/Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Issued at HKT 12:35
Issued at HKT 12:35
NNNN