Abstract

This article deals with the prevalence of sexual violence and its related health harm, historical breakthrough developments in victim services and forensic science, as well
as the help provided by modern multidisciplinary sexual assault centres (SACs). It also includes data on sexual assault victims who sought medical help in Estonia during the period of 2016-2021, based on the Estonian SAC database.
Sexual violence was brought to public attention by the Women’s Liberation Movement and the first rape crisis centres provided mainly counselling. Today, open sexual assault centres are integrated into the health care system and offer 24-hour multidisciplinary help in one location, with no requirement to involve the police. In Estonia, SACs were founded in 2016 after the ratification of the Istanbul Convention. The number of sexual violence survivors in SACs has increased year by year. Standardised services in SACs contribute to secondary prevention of health harm among sexual violence survivors.