Sexual violence (SV) is a major public health, judicial and societal concern in Belgium. Acomparative and representative study of SV in Belgium was still lacking. The UN-MENAMAISstudy aimed to contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms, nature, magnitude andimpact of sexual violence on female, male and transgender victims, their peers, offspring,professionals and society in Belgium and generate policy recommendations and preventionand response strategies. This mixed methods study showed that sexual violence is prevalentin Belgium and affects people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations and legal statuses.Being sexually victimized is linked to worse mental health outcomes across the life course.Moreover, victims find it difficult to disclose what happened, to seek professional help and toreport to the police. Furthermore, doctors are not sufficiently aware of the care they shouldprovide, nor of the potential impact of a forensic examination and do not systematically refervictims of sexual violence to adequate care, forensic or legal authorities. Regardless of theforensic model considered, victims find it difficult to gain recognition from the courts becauseof the judicial logic, which involves specific principles of proof and for which forensic evidenceis not always sufficient. ; Contract - BR/175/A5/UNMENAMAIS ; info:eu-repo/semantics/published