FRENCH GOVERNMENT MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY FIGHTING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

USPA NEWS - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is marked, in France by the Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who mobilized herself and some ministers meres of her government in the fight against domestic, sexist and sexual violence.

"On the eve of the international day for the elimination of violence against women, the Prime Minister went to Saint-Lazare station to launch the awareness campaign against gender-based and sexual violence in transport together, in the presence of Ms. Bérangère Couillard, Minister Delegate in charge of Equality between Women and Men and the Fight against Discrimination, Ms. Dominique Faure, Minister Delegate in charge of Local Authorities and Rural Affairs and Mr. Clement Beaune, Minister Delegate for Transport.
In partnership with the RATP and the SNCF, the awareness campaign “Against the attackers, let's raise our eyes” will be deployed throughout the country. It aims to denounce gender-based and sexual violence on public transport: nearly 9 out of 10 women say they have already been victims of violence on public transport."

Some new measures have been unveiled, on the occasion of the International Day of fighting against the violence against women. We publish the full text communique released by the PM cabinet, as it was delivered (Source: Matignon, French PM Elisabeth Borne Cabinet)

FRENCH PM & MINISTERS MOBILIZED FOR JOINING FORCES TO LOWER VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN The Prime Minister, surrounded by Mr. Eric Dupond-Moretti, Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice, by Ms. Aurore Berge, Minister of Solidarity and Families, by Ms. Berangere Couillard, Minister Delegate, responsible for Equality between Women and men and the fight against discrimination, Ms. Dominique Faure, Minister Delegate in charge of Local Authorities and Rural Affairs, Mr. Clement Beaune, Minister Delegate in charge of Transport, and Ms. Agnès Firmin Le Bodo, Minister Delegate, responsible for Territorial Organization and Health Professions, then brought together, at the Hôtel de Matignon (French Prime Minister), actors committed to combating violence against women: associations, magistrates, law enforcement, health professionals, community representatives territorial and social security.

It was declared a major cause of the five-year term, gender equality is a priority of the President of the French Republic and the Government, committed to the fight against domestic, sexist and sexual violence. Four years ago, the Grenelle Summit fighting Violence against Women, was launched; it was a major turning point in the fight against violence against women.
With more than fifty (50) measures, it has helped free the voices of women, their loved ones and professionals. The Prime Minister recalled to the actions implemented since 2019 with:

STRENGTHENING DEDICATED RESSOURCES

1-The financial resources of the 3919 platform were doubled in 2023;
2- The establishment of a digital platform for reporting attacks on people and supporting victims (PNAV), which allows victims to contact anonymously, by chat, 7 days a week and 24 hours a day with a police officer or gendarme trained to assist them in filing a complaint;
3- More than 4,500 “serious danger” telephones have been deployed;
4- More than 1,000 active anti-reconciliation bracelets;
5- the doubling of dedicated accommodation places, from 5,000 places in 2018 to more than 10,000 in 2023;
6- The establishment of 70 structures, such as women's centers, to care for women victims of violence, with the aim of having one per department by 2025;
7- The opening of 30 treatment centers for perpetrators of violence.

• IMPROVED JUDICIAL TREATMENT:
1-Complaints can now be taken on the move, ensuring the security and confidentiality of victims;
2- Protection orders have increased 2.5 times since 2017;
3- Convictions for domestic violence doubled between 2017 and 2022.

THE FIGHT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REMAINS A PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT, YET THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RATE IS HIGH

The fight against domestic violence remains a priority for the Government, while the number of victims of domestic violence remains high. Thus Elisabeth Borne returned to the measures which will come into force by January 1, 2024, concretizing the commitments made by the Government since 2022:

• The establishment of specialized centers, from January 1, 2024, in all judicial courts: made up of dedicated magistrates and civil servants, these centers will be assisted by steering committees which will bring together jurisdictional actors and external partners, in a partnership logic. Domestic violence cases will be handled cross-functionally by these specialized centers, both on a civil and criminal level with a single file and dedicated hearings.

• The deployment of the domestic violence prevention file: a campaign promise from the President of the Republic, this file, currently being tested, will allow those in the field, and in particular the police, to improve their knowledge and monitoring perpetrators of domestic violence, taking into account weak signals, in order to guarantee the safety of victims.

• The payment of emergency aid by the Family Allowance Funds: paid from December 1, 2023, this aid, the amount of which will vary depending on the resources and composition of the household, will allow victims of domestic violence to meet their urgent expenses in the event of sheltering and separation, while waiting to find lasting solutions, access existing assistance and benefit from social support." Source: French Government, Prime Ministry Cabinet Office