When she was 30, Nina Fuchs was drugged and raped. Since then she has been fighting for justice – so far without success.
Today I am no longer the woman I was seven years ago, and my life is no longer the same either. Back in spring 2013, I experienced what was the biggest nightmare for most women: I was raped under the influence of knockout drops. But my nightmare only really started after the rape – with the police. And if I'm honest, then the nightmare is still not over, because to this day I am still fighting for a fair trial.
Despite traces of sperm: police skeptical about "memory gaps"
At that time, the knockout drops could no longer be detected because the blood and urine samples were taken much too late. But forensic medicine found traces of semen and was able to recover the DNA of one of the two men I can only remember fragmentarily. Based on these traces of DNA, there was suddenly a hit in the database five years after the crime. That was quite a shock for me because after such a long time I had long since no longer expected that this man would ever be found. I wanted to finish with the topic and leave this experience behind. But it turned out differently.
At the time, the police hadn't believed the story of the knockout drops or the rape. No one who has not experienced this firsthand knows how horrible such a testimony from the police and an investigation by forensic medicine is – when there is no more privacy, when you have to reveal everything and reveal your innermost heart when you use words have to find for an experience that cannot be put into words, if every millimeter of your body and every opening of the body is examined meticulously, if your feelings of shame are not conceded and they are simply ignored. Going through all of this was bad, but not being believed was like a slap in the face.
We all know that there are bad people and psychopaths and that will never change, but from the representation of our state – from the police and the judiciary – I expect that everything possible is done to help victims of sexualised violence , and that at least everything is being tried to ensure justice for those affected. But in my case, as in so many other cases, exactly the opposite was done. Despite the DNA traces, the judiciary closed the case. My memory gaps were the reason for the hiring back then. The fact that this decision represents a free ticket for every perpetrator obviously did not matter.
My case is not the exception, but the rule
My disappointment, the feeling of powerlessness, my anger and frustration cannot be expressed in words. But I am a fighter and I couldn't stand injustice even in kindergarten. That's why I started an online petition that over 100,000 people have signed to date. However, neither the petition and the resulting high levels of media and public attention, nor the complaint my lawyer made, could do anything to change the fact that my proceedings were stopped again and that both the Attorney General and the Higher Regional Court upheld this decision by the Prosecutors confirmed.
I actually wanted to give up. I felt small and powerless, like David against Goliath. But then I became aware of one thing: decisions always serve as references for new decisions, especially if they were found to be correct by two higher authorities. The idea that victims of sexualised violence will have to go through the same thing because of my case and that they will also be denied a fair trial is intolerable to me. Especially in our country, where just 7.5 percent of all reported rapes lead to a conviction and, if you include the huge dark field, only one offender is held accountable out of a hundred rape cases, such a procedure is simply fatal . For this reason, I decided to keep fighting and go to the Federal Constitutional Court and then to the European Court of Human Rights.
A few days ago a friend sent me an article about the verdict on the mass rape in Freiburg: "I see a lot of parallels to your case," she wrote. I see that too, and I wonder how it can be that we live in a system in which it depends on the personal assessment of individuals, whether a trial is terminated or whether there is a sentence of over five years in prison. I find it terrifying what arbitrariness and arbitrariness prevails here.
Striving for change gives strength
The topic of sexual violence has become part of my everyday life. This is often stressful and emotionally challenging. But my inability to accept the current state and my striving for change give me strength to keep fighting. After all, giving up is not an option. The exchange with other affected people, with feminists and other strong women, the cohesion and solidarity fills me with hope and joy every time anew. Last but not least, the support and support of thousands of people every day is confirmation that I am doing the right thing.
I am about to found an association. It will be called "KO – No Victim" and our mission is to sensitize society to the issues of sexual violence and knockout drops and to contribute to a culture of looking and listening – because everyone has the right to a life free of violence! We want to give a voice to victims of sexual violence and are committed to ensuring that sustainable changes take place on a social and political level and that victims' rights are strengthened.
In the area of public relations, we want to raise awareness of the causes and effects of sexualised violence through media presence, campaigns and events and campaign for the necessary changes. In the context of prevention work, we want to reach and educate young people in educational and care facilities, in order to help promote self-determined attitudes and to ensure that people interact with one another carefully, respectfully and without violence.
I said at the beginning that myself and my life are no longer the same as before the rape. I grew from it and today I am stronger than ever – and I know exactly what I need this strength for. I can no longer change my past. But I can fight for something to change in the future and that we live in a society that is characterized by a culture of consensus, courage and cohesion.
Would you like to support Nina in her fight against the prevailing injustice in the area of sexual violence? The Munich resident is currently collecting money for legal and court costs in a crowdfunding to enforce a retrial of her case and thus prevent her story from becoming another case that will make it easier for perpetrators to get away with impunity in the future. Perhaps with a small stake we can all help Nina achieve something big.