Transgressive behaviour reporting centre receives 650 calls in first year
The reporting centre for transgressive behaviour in the Flemish public sector received 645 reports in its first year, or about 12 per week, VRT reports.
The hotline, set up a year ago, enables people to report transgressive behaviour within sectors of the Flemish government to an external organisation. Reports can concern bullying within a sports club or inappropriate sexual behaviour in a cultural centre or school. Of the 645 reports received in the first year, most concerned psychological violence and inappropriate sexual behaviour.
The centre is an outlet for when a report is not dealt with well internally or people do not trust their organisation's internal reporting point, coordinator Annick Deblauwe told VRT.
“We help people to raise the problem with the organisation concerned," she said. "We also offer recovery talks with perpetrators or can refer people to other counsellors or the police.”
"The figures show that there is a great need for a central hotline from the private sector too"
One in 5 reports were about transgressive behaviour within education, mainly in primary and secondary schools. Education is one of the largest sectors within the Flemish government. Parents reported transgressive behaviour against their child and teachers reported bullying or poor leadership by colleagues or concerns about pupils.
Although the hotline is intended for the public sector, four out of 10 reports came from the private sector “We can currently only refer these people to other helplines,” said Deblauwe. “That’s a pity, because the figures show that there is a great need for a central hotline from that sector too. We are in favour of also offering supportive talks to people from the private sector.”
Flemish Justice minister Zuhal Demir is satisfied with the figures and intends to increase communication about the hotline. Sheis also in favour of extending the hotline to the private sector.
“We want to combat fragmentation," she said. "It’s especially important that citizens have a clear point of contact and do not have to try to choose correctly between all kinds of options.”
#FlandersNewsService | Flemish Justice minister Zuhal Demir in the Flemish Parliament © BELGA PHOTO WARD VANDAEL
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