Background
In 2000, with the support of Dr. Philip S.L. Beh, the Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women established RainLily, Hong Kong's first sexual violence crisis support centre. Since then, Dr. Beh served as an honorary consultant to the Association and RainLily, consistently speaking up for sexual violence victim-survivors with care, defending their rights, and ensuring that every survivor is treated with dignity. His expertise as a forensic pathologist brought indispensable perspectives to RainLily and helped actively build connections within professional networks, ensuring that RainLily's services received adequate attention and support.
Dr. Philip S.L. Beh passed away on July 2, 2025. His family donated part of the funeral condolences to RainLily. In gratitude for his years of contribution and to continue his selfless spirit and love for RainLily and sexual violence victim-survivors, RainLily has established the "Dr. Philip Beh Swan-lip Charitable Memorial Fund".
Objective
To commemorate Dr. Philip Beh's contributions to RainLily and sexual violence victim-survivors, and to continue his spirit of professional service and dedication to helping others.
Purpose
To provide emergency financial assistance to sexual violence victim-survivors or their families, including emergency living assistance, safe accommodation expenses, medical-related expenses, and legal procedure-related expenses, to help them overcome difficulties.
Target Beneficiaries
Service users currently receiving crisis support services from RainLily
Dr Philip S.L. Beh at the Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women's 10th Anniversary Dinner in 2007
Dr Philip S.L. Beh at the RainLily Retrospective Study 2000-2018 report launch seminar in 2019
Dr Philip S.L. Beh and RainLily
The Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women came to know Dr Philip S.L. Beh during the organisation's early days, and it was with his support that RainLily was established. His expertise as a forensic pathologist provided invaluable perspectives and crucial support to the founding social work colleagues of the Association. From our very beginnings, Dr Beh served as an Honorary Consultant to our organisation and a member of RainLily's Management Committee, his consistent support at every level and his active involvement were truly pivotal to our professionalism, impact, and sustained growth.
“After the incident, victims of rape are often confused and helpless, unable to calmly consider whether or not to report it to the police. Under the current system, they simply have no choice: either report it, or do nothing at all. A victim bleeding in the A&E will be asked by the doctor if they want to report it. If they decide to, the police will be called to summon a forensic expert for evidence collection. If they do not report it, their wounds will simply be cleaned and that is the end of it; there will be no further follow-up. Victims truly have no room for choice.”
Dr Beh's extensive experience in forensic science deeply informed his understanding of the secondary trauma that criminal justice procedures could unfortunately inflict upon victim-survivors of sexual violence. Yet, he was a firm believer that this systemic harm could be lessened through cross-sector collaboration. Consequently, he passionately championed evidence collection and support mechanisms for sexual assault cases that were not conditional on reporting to the police. Hong Kong's first sexual violence crisis support centre, RainLily, was established in 2000. Dr Beh then consistently worked to streamline procedures for sexual assault survivors within the centre, both at the systemic and operational levels, reducing unnecessary referrals and duplication.
In 2016, with Dr Beh's support, RainLily began its retrospective study series. This involved organising and analysing RainLily's past case records, shedding light on the landscape of sexual violence in Hong Kong and ultimately seeking to deepen public and policymaker understanding, thereby fostering continued action. In 2018, Dr Beh further supported RainLily in organising the "Symposium on Sexual Violence in Asia," helping to invite numerous international forensic professionals involved in sexual violence crisis intervention to share their insights, thereby advancing the implementation of relevant models in Hong Kong. Dr Beh's unwavering support for the Association and RainLily was truly actions that speak louder than words. He laid a vital foundation for supporting victim-survivors of sexual violence.