International Centre for Reproductive Health - ICRH

19/11/2025

Today, on International Men’s Day 👥, we draw attention to the stories of migrant men whose experiences too often remain unheard. On their journeys to and through Europe, many confront the risk of sexual violence ⚠️ — yet their experiences are frequently dismissed or overlooked.

Cultural stigma, fear of retaliation, and rigid masculine expectations 🤐 silence many men who need help. Male survivors deserve safety, recognition, and support 🛡️.

📄 Read more in our recent publication on this topic:

Background Despite increased scholarly attention to sexual violence, victimization among migrant men and boys remains under researched. This study aims to explore 1) migrant men’s views on and understandings of sexual victimization, 2) their own experiences with surviving and witnessing sexual vio...

11/11/2025

🌍 Today is National Women’s Day in Belgium – 11/11/2025

Today we celebrate all the strong women and men conducting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights research who have made the work of ICRH-B possible over the last 31 years— transforming the lives of millions of women around the world. Your dedication, resilience, and vision continue to drive progress in global health.

Happy Women's Day 💪❤️

03/11/2025

Sexual victimization (SV) leaves deep scars, but for LGB+ individuals, the impact can be even more profound.

🧐 Our new published paper explored how LGB+ persons experience SV and navigate the journey of seeking help. The results showed that beyond the trauma itself, many face identity-related struggles, such as questioning their gender expression or experiencing a drop in self-esteem. And the barriers to seeking help? Fear of stigma, invalidation, and concerns about professionals’ LGB+ competence. 🚫👥

These findings are a call to action: we need trauma-informed, LGB+-inclusive services and structural policy changes to make help truly accessible for everyone. ✨💪

Congratulations to Prof. dr. Ines Keygnaert and Elizaveta Fomenko for their incredible contributions to this important research! 👏

📖 Read the full paper here: https://www.mdpi.com/3565050

16/10/2025

🔔 New Publication Alert 🔔

We are excited to share our latest research published in Healthcare: “Healing Bodies, Healing Communities: A Community-Based Qualitative Study of Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Trauma in South Africa” by Leona Morgan, Sarojini Nadar, and Ines Keygnaert.

🔗 https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/13/20/2601

Highlights:
🌟 Body-based care models effectively address long-term, intergenerational, and somatic aspects of sexual trauma, especially for survivors historically excluded from mental health care.
🌟 Co-creating care pathways ensures culturally sensitive approaches responsive to the lived experiences of marginalized survivors.

Main Findings:
🌟 Relational safety and somatic engagement are foundational, allowing survivors to process trauma at their own pace and integrate dissociative experiences through embodied therapeutic practices.
🌟 Recovery is relational and continuous, with participants reporting greater peace, authenticity, and social connection despite structural barriers.

Implications:
🌟 Integrative Trauma-Informed Care (ITIC) offers a culturally sensitive, adaptable framework emphasizing embodied, intergenerational, and relational healing.
🌟 Decolonial and feminist approaches bridge epistemic gaps by centering survivors’ lived experiences, promoting sustainable and inclusive therapeutic models globally.
💡 This research reinforces that healing is embodied, relational, and community-centered, offering insights for trauma-informed care worldwide.

01/10/2025

How do you carry the fear of death, the weight of stigma, and the responsibilities of motherhood, all at once?

When Laurence Hendrickx was diagnosed with HIV while pregnant, she faced not only overwhelming stigma but also the duty of protecting her daughters. Motherhood was a central part of her journey in a highly stigmatising context, but it was not the only challenge. Laurence also reflected on misinformation, the importance of supportive social networks, and building trust while navigating future relationships.

Curious about how Laurence coped, how long it took, and how intergenerational differences shape misunderstandings around STIs, sexuality, and stigma? Watch the video and immerse yourself in this inspiring talk.

Laurence Hendrikx shares her journey of being diagnosed with HIV while pregnant at a time when stigma was overwhelming.Today, Laurence not only speaks openly...

25/09/2025

🚀 Versterk je vaardigheden met 7 nieuwe e-learnings!

Ben jij zorgverlener en wil je slachtoffers van geweld nog beter ondersteunen? Ontdek onze nieuwe modules:

➡️ 1.5 Eergerelateerd geweld & gedwongen huwelijken
➡️ 1.6 Vrouwelijke genitale verminking
➡️ 2.4 Omgaan met geweld tegenover zorgverleners
➡️ 3.2 Ondersteuning van zorgverleners
➡️ 4.3 Eerste psychische hulp & psycho-educatie
➡️ 4.6 Sporenbewarend handelen & forensische zorg na geweld
➡️ 5.1 Diversiteitssensitieve zorg

👉 Ga naar de e-learnings: https://operatiealert.be/e-learnings/

📬 Schrijf je in voor de nieuwsbrief en blijf op de hoogte van nieuwe content: https://operatiealert.be/nieuwsbrief/

04/09/2025

🌍💙 World Sexual Health Day 2025 💙🌍

Today, we highlight a compelling article by L. Morgan (2025) on integrative silence in therapeutic settings. The study shows how intentional silence can help process trauma, which is crucial for holistic sexual and mental health care.

Sexual health is more than physical well-being—it includes emotional and psychological support, and creating safe spaces for healing.

🔗 Read the full article here http://bit.ly/3JKz332

04/09/2025

This year's theme of is "Sexual Justice: What Can We Do?”

💡 This question also triggered Lore Roels' doctoral research at ICRH 4 years ago. The project asks itself what myths or permeate of survivors/victims fleeing

🎯 In answering it, the research identified 6 myths hampering refugees' journey 'from survival to recognition'. It reveals how in the asylum context is an alarmingly widespread phenomenon, calling for urgent change towards gender-sensitive decision making practices

⏰ As the research is coming to an end, stay tuned for more info on the defence and valorisation!

⏳Can't wait that long? Find all publications so far here: https://biblio.ugent.be/person/A025320A-315A-11E4-9133-910EB5D1D7B1

04/09/2025

🌍💜 World Sexual Health Day reminds us that sexual justice goes beyond consent and pleasure — it includes the right to safe, respectful, and dignified care throughout our lives, including childbirth.

ICRH conducted a study in collaboration with the IMAgiNE EURO network across 22 countries in the WHO European Region showing that:
�🔎 Over 15% of women reported abuse during childbirth.
�🗣 Emotional abuse was experienced by 10.3%
�📢 Verbal abuse by 7.3%
�✋ Physical abuse by 2.4%.

Behind these numbers are lived experiences of being silenced, dismissed, or treated as objects rather than human beings. ICRH will keep striving for sexual health as a human right — and so is giving birth free from disrespect, coercion, or violence.

The study will be available soon via DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.70516

04/09/2025

🌍💜 Today is World Sexual Health Day 2025! This year’s theme, “Sexual Justice: What Can We Do?”, reminds us that everyone deserves dignity, respect, and access to sexual and reproductive health ✊✨.

At ICRH Belgium, we are proud to contribute to this vision. A recent publication by Arefayne Alenko, Morankar Sudhakar, Legese Chelkeba, and Ines Keygnaert explores the lived experiences of sexual and reproductive health consequences of Parkinson’s disease in Ethiopia 🧠.

Their research shows that SRH is often overlooked in chronic conditions, yet it plays a vital role in well-being and quality of life ❤️🌸. This study calls for more inclusive healthcare that recognizes SRH as a fundamental part of human dignity.

📖 Read the article here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11136-025-04013-x

💡 Let’s work together toward sexual justice and inclusive care — because sexual health matters for everyone 🌟.

15/07/2025

🚨 Operatie Alert update: 3 nieuwe modules online! 🚨
💡 Ideaal om je kennis bij te spijkeren in de zomermaanden!

🆘 4.3 Eerste psychische hulp en psycho-educatie
Ontdek de basisprincipes van eerste psychische hulp en leer hoe je patiënten tot rust brengt na ingrijpende gebeurtenissen.
🌍 1.6 Vrouwelijke genitale verminking
Krijg helder inzicht in vrouwelijke genitale verminking. Deze module biedt praktische handvatten voor respectvolle en gepaste communicatie.
🧠 3.2 Ondersteuning van zorgverleners
Leidinggevenden krijgen concrete tools om hun team mentaal gezond te houden, met extra aandacht voor een sterk welzijnsbeleid.

👉 Ontdek de nieuwe modules: https://operatiealert.be/e-learnings/
📬 Schrijf je in voor de nieuwsbrief en blijf op de hoogte van nieuwe content: https://operatiealert.be/nieuwsbrief/

Operatie Alert wil laagdrempelig zijn. Daarom zetten we sterk in op e-learnings. Die behandelen vijf thema’s. De basismodules volgen elkaar op. Je werkt dus eerst een module af voor je aan de volgende kan beginnen. Binnen het aanbod van verdiepende modules kan je wel vrij kiezen wat je wil volgen....