A survey by the Institute for Equality between Women and Men indicates that one in 100 Belgians had a nude picture of them shared without their consent, De Morgen reports.
For 2022, the Institute undertook a large-scale survey on the phenomenon of revenge porn, which is the dissemination of nude or sexual images without the permission of the person appearing in the images.
Their findings show that "revenge porn is a major social problem," stated the Institute's deputy director Liesbet Stevens. Interestingly, there were as many women as men among the victims, who spanned all age groups (the youngest respondent was 21 and the oldest 65).
Women are, however, five times more likely than males to be compelled to share a nude picture of themselves, and twice as likely to receive an uninvited sexual image.
A third of victims do not seek help after their ordeal and only one in every six chose to report the crime to the police.
'Nothing to be ashamed of'
The main reason given for the lack of police follow-up is that victims are embarrassed or do not believe that filing a complaint would achieve anything.
As a result, Federal Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open VLD) wants to shift the stigma attached to revenge porn, telling the Flemish newspaper De Morgen that "victims have nothing to be ashamed of."
He went on to say that only those who "send these photos without authorisation are at fault and risk punishment." He added that "sending an unwanted picture is likewise illegal and is considered digital exhibitionism" in the eyes of the law.
