The Case of Ruben Vanstiphout

A recent Belgian sexual assault case has taken over social media due to intense outrage.

Ruben Vanstiphout, a 24 year old medical student, was recently found guilty of raping a fellow student. In November of 2023, Vanstiphout and the victim were at a party, and the victim got extremely drunk. Prosecution stated that the victim “stumbled and was unable to stand up on her own two feet and needed support to prevent her from falling down”(VRT News). Vanstiphout claimed that she gave the impression that she consented after he asked; however, impaired people cannot give consent, meaning that she was unable to agree to intercourse.

Prosecution requested a three year suspension as punishment, but Defense stated that a suspension would make it difficult for him to get a job in the medical industry, and thus requested that the judge not grant the suspension as punishment. This actually worked in favor of the Defense, as the judge decided not to punish Vanstiphout at all, stating,

“it is undeniable that he passed the line of what is permissible. the man showed a lack of respect for the victim’s physical, psychological, and sexual boundaries. However, he is still young and has no criminal record. he is also a talented and committed person in both his professional and private life. By finding him guilty but not punishing him, he will be made to feel guilty and the chance of reoffending will be prevented, without socially impairing the man”(VRT News).

The career that Vanstiphout is pursuing in the medical field is gynecology, a career that would give him access to the most intimate parts of a woman. This has lead to widespread outrage. No woman wants to know that the man that has full access to her vagina is also a convicted rapist.

Additionally, this man was found guilty of an inexcusable crime, yet he is facing no punishment. This type of situation is what discourages people from reporting sexual assault in the first place because he was guilty, the judge ruled him as such, yet he still gets to live his life normally, and potentially harm other women, while the victim’s life is permanently tainted.

There are several petitions in place to punish him. It’s important to advocate against cases like this so survivors are given the justice they deserve.

Source:

“Medical Student Convicted of Raping Another Student Escapes Sentence as ‘He Is Young and Talented.’” VRT News, http://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2025/04/01/medical-student-convicted-of-raping-another-student-escapes-sent/. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.