One in 20 women in Europe have been the victim of rape. A global problem, sexual violence is all around us, and not all its victims are women. Nevertheless, the issue is repeatedly shrouded in silence, with victims left to cope by themselves. Roel van der Kamp wants to change that.

While looking for a non-violent but effective weapon against sexual assaults, he had a new idea: a bracelet that can be activated when its wearer is in danger, putting victims and witnesses back in control. How? Van der Kamp’s “invi bracelet” simply releases a repellent smell when the wearer is attacked. Yet this is enough to completely surprise the perpetrator and disrupt their intentions. It not only hinders the attacker’s sexual arousal, but also alerts potential bystanders.

One in 20 women in Europe have been the victim of rape.

Roel, your inspiration for this unusual method of self-defense came from nature: Skunks use exactly the same technique to protect themselves against attackers. How long did it take to turn this idea into a working product?

Almost three years. We started by talking to a large number of victims, psychologists, police officers and neuroscientists to learn about all the different aspects of violent attacks and their prevention. Then we had to develop the bracelet itself – neither the smell nor the activation mechanism had yet been developed. The formula for the substance that releases the odor was created with the help of an international research project at the University of Groningen. It needs to have optimal impact while remaining non-toxic and ethically sound. Self-defense experts tested the bracelets for us in simulated attacks to ensure that they could be safely used.

Has the “invi bracelet” been used in any emergencies yet?
Not yet, and hopefully it will stay that way. The mere decision to acquire the bracelet is the beginning of a determination to take a stand against sexual violence, and this makes us more resilient. If we are attacked, we feel less overwhelmed and can react more effectively as a result. Pilot studies confirm that wearers of the bracelet feel safer and stronger, and therefore behave with more self-confidence. This alone reduces the risk of becoming a victim. If the worst does happen, however, invi can make a decisive difference and prevent escalation.

How did you finance invi, your social start-up?
We are self-financing at the moment. There are no major external investors. But a great many people are supporting us with help and advice because they also want to do something to tackle sexual violence. That’s extremely encouraging.

Sexual violence is a global problem. It’s often particularly difficult for women in emerging countries to defend themselves. 
Our aim is to protect people from sexual assault all around the world. In the future, we want the bracelet to be affordable for men and women in developing and emerging nations. One possibility, for example, would be to finance it using a hybrid model. This means that sales in Europe would cross-finance bracelets in poorer countries. This would, of course, rely on collaboration with a local organization that works in the area and has the experience to judge whether and how invi could work in the relevant social context.

If the worst does happen, however, invi can make a decisive difference and prevent escalation.