Going to the Emergency Room for Sexual Abuse

If the offence is recent, the special Emergency Room for Sexual Abuse is the right place to go.

Come as soon as possible
Who knows you have come?
Good advice
Dealing with trauma

This web page is part of the Guide to the Icelandic justice system for victims of sexual offences. It aims to clarify the process regarding offences against individuals 18 years and older.

Emergency Rooms for Sexual Abuse are located in Reykjavík (National Hospital, Fossvogur location) and Akureyri Hospital (Sjúkrahúsið á Akureyri) and out side those service area, at your local health care centre.

Try to come as soon as possible

For many victims of sexual offences, a visit to this specialised emergency room is the first step towards recovery. It is best to come as soon as possible, both for the sake of your health and any potential investigation of the offence.

Support, examination, and treatment

Staff evaluate which services you need and want to receive in consultation with you. Some of the available services are:

A consultation with an ER nurse.
A medical examination and treatment based on your needs.
A forensic examination where evidence is collected and injuries evaluated.
A referral to a crisis team.

For investigation of the offence

If you decide to press charges for the offence, the first 72 hours after it is committed are very important. That’s when there is the best chance to collect data that can be used in the case if it goes to court. This includes biological specimens, data from the scene of the offence, and information about witnesses. This is another reason why it is good to go to the ER right away.

You can have police take you to the ER or ask for the police to come to the ER if you have decided to press charges for the offence right away.

Length of visit

The medical examination itself is often short. The visit as a whole can take 2-4 hours but that depends on the scope of each visit.

Here is more information about the emergency rooms and what a visit and examination are like:

Emergency care for sexual assault victims

The Emergency care for sexual assault assists anyone who has been raped, experienced attempted rape or any other sexual abuse.

Emergency care in Akureyri for sexual assault victims

The Emergency Care for Sexual Assault in Akureyri assists anyone who has been raped, experienced attempted rape or any other sexual abuse.

Health care Centres

At the Health care Centres, doctors, nurses, midwives and psychologist work to serve residents in that neighbourhood or municipality.

Who knows that you have come to the ER for Sexual Abuse?

The identity of everyone who goes to the ER for Sexual Abuse remains anonymous. That applies to the entire process.

It is important to report the offence to the police at the first opportunity because it often proves more difficult to investigate an offence if a long time has passed since it took place.

More good advice?

Dealing with trauma

Your health is the most important thing and trauma can have varying repercussions. It is good to seek help as soon as possible in order to understand how the impact may be presenting itself in your case, but it is never too late. At the ER for Sexual Abuse you can get a referral to a crisis team. Survivor support centres are also there to help you work through the trauma.

Bjarkarhlíð

Bjarkarhlíð is a center for people who have experienced abuse. There you get all the support and counseling you need in one place. All assistance is on your terms.

Bjarmahlíð in Akureyri

Bjarmahlíð is a center for people who have experienced abuse. There you get all the support and counseling you need in one place. All assistance is on your terms.

Sigurhæðir in Selfoss

Sigurhæðir is a service for victims of gender-based violence in South Iceland. There you receive coordinated counsel, support and therapy on your terms.