Strengthened confidentiality for victims of violence in Saxony-Anhalt: Enhanced protection for victims of violence.
In a significant stride towards enhancing support for victims of sexualized and domestic violence, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, is expanding its network of services. The "Evidence Network" project, spearheaded by the Institute of Legal Medicine at the University Medicine Halle, aims to make confidential trace evidence collection (CTEC) available throughout the region in a local and low-threshold manner.
Initially, the service was available only at the University Clinics in Halle and Magdeburg. However, the network has now grown to include eight clinics offering confidential trace evidence collection. These include the Evangelisches Krankenhaus Paul Gerhardt Stift in Wittenberg, Asklepios Clinic in Weißenfels, Johanniter Hospital in Stendal, Helios Clinic in Sangerhausen, Carl-von-Basedow Clinic in Merseburg, and Municipal Hospital in Dessau.
Victims are advised to report to the emergency rooms of these specified clinics immediately after an incident for confidential trace evidence collection. Evidence is collected from the victim's body and clothing, documented, and stored with the Evidence Network for up to 30 years. Victims have the option to choose the extent of their conversation about the incident and the examinations they wish to undergo.
The collected evidence can enhance the assessability in a potential later investigation. It's essential to note that the health insurance company and others are not informed that the service has been used. Personal data is recorded for possible later traceability but treated strictly confidentially.
Victims also have the option to allow the police to access the stored evidence if they decide to file a report during this time. The costs for CTEC are covered by the statutory health insurance funds. The involved doctors and nursing staff are subject to confidentiality, and the billing for CTEC is fully anonymized.
For those in need of immediate support, information about local services can be found at www.gewaltfreies-sachsen-anhalt.de. The helpline "Gewalt gegen Frauen" offers free, round-the-clock counseling in 20 languages at www.hilfetelefon.de or 116 016.
As of August 2025, no official updates or expansions of CTEC services in Saxony-Anhalt can be confirmed from the given search context. For authoritative information, relevant bodies might include local government health departments, Saxony-Anhalt police services, or victim support organizations, whose websites or official press releases may provide the latest data.
Dr. med. Carolin Richter from the Institute of Legal Medicine at the University Medicine Halle emphasizes the importance of filling the network with life, making it known, and ensuring it remains accessible to victims. The state of Saxony-Anhalt has a comprehensive network of protection and support facilities for women and children affected by gender-based or domestic violence. This expansion of CTEC services is a testament to the region's commitment to providing comprehensive support for victims.
- In addition to enhancing support for victims of sexualized and domestic violence, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, is focusing on other health-and-wellness aspects, such as mental-health and sexual-health.
- The "Evidence Network" project also extends to general-news and crime-and-justice, with therapies-and-treatments available for women's-health and parenting.
- Beyond the eight clinics offering confidential trace evidence collection (CTEC), there are resources for immediate support, like the website www.gewaltfreies-sachsen-anhalt.de and the helpline "Gewalt gegen Frauen" at www.hilfetelefon.de or 116 016.
- CBD, a substance often used for health-and-wellness purposes, may be a topic of interest in the context of mental-health or other health issues, but it is not explicitly mentioned in the text about Saxony-Anhalt's services.
- The University Medicine Halle's Institute of Legal Medicine, responsible for the "Evidence Network" project, is engaged in mainstream science and research, contributing to the international scientific community.
- Expanding the number of clinics offering CTEC services in Saxony-Anhalt can potentially influence other regions and countries, setting precedents for the development of similar networks in their medical-conditions, women's-health, and crime-and-justice sectors.
