Domestic Violence in France: Quel Scandale ! ( Not only France!)

“MY DADDY KILLED MY MUMMY WITH A KNIFE.”
These are the plaintive words on a banner carried by one of the thousands of mainly female protesters who marched through Paris on the third weekend in November. The demonstration involved nearly seventy political parties, unions, and associations nationwide.

One of the main organisers was #Nous Toutes. This translates as “All of us (women),” a grassroots movement involving several feminist groups. They hope the demonstrations will result in a set of specific measures being adopted against domestic violence.

The number of women killed by this scourge in France is the highest in Europe. In the country that leads the world in eliminating the curse of FGM, 230 women have been killed by their husband, partner or ex-partner this year. That’s one every two to three days. And an estimated 12 more will be murdered in l’hexagon in the month leading up to Christmas.

“Abusers you’ve had it—women are in the street,” chanted the crowd estimated to be 100,000 in Paris, and 150,000 throughout France.

Many were dressed in purple, the movement’s chosen symbolic colour, and carrying the same hue in placards displaying the names of murdered women.

“France’s shame”, said President Emmanuel Macron, as he expressed his solidarity. “I give my support to every woman who has experienced gender-based or sexual violence. Count on me to continue the mobilisation of the government and the entire nation in this great cause.”

French bureaucrats are due to publish the results of an investigation into domestic violence shortly. And the Secretary of State for Gender Equality is also about to announce a series of new measures aimed at protecting women.

The main objective is prioritising police training so that they won’t brush off women’s complaints as a private non-police affair.

At a recent publicity event, the President wanted to showcase the positive changes that had been enacted to give police more power to crack down on the perpetrators of domestic violence.

But things went badly wrong, wrong, wrong.

He heard a police officer on the National Domestic Violence Hotline refusing to help a woman in danger.

  • With headphones on, the president sat gravely listening in to calls being taken by a hotline operator with over twenty years of experience.
  • They were listening to an obviously distressed 57-year-old woman at her local police station.
  • She said her violent husband had threatened to kill her.
  • She had filed a police complaint but still feared her husband would murder her.
  • She was asking the police to escort her home to retrieve her possessions so that she could leave him.
  • But the officer refused.

The operator asked to talk to him and attempted to get the gendarme to help her.

  • But, unaware that the president was listening in, the officer insisted that he wasn’t going to intervene.
  • He said—wrongly—that he would need a judicial order to accompany the woman.

Macron, shaking his head in disbelief, asked, “Does this happen often?”

  • “Oh yes, more and more frequently,” the operator responded.

The French government has already flagged a number of emergency measures designed to counter violence against women. These include:-

  • the creation of 1,000 shelters offering emergency accommodation, and an audit of 400 police stations to check on how they respond to women’s complaints.
  • The confiscation of firearms from violent partners by police will be made easier.
  • Mandatory psychological medical assessments are being considered.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has committed €5m to assist in the fight against femicide. The complaints procedure is to be simplified so that violent partners can be removed more quickly.

Mr Macron has also put forward a radical idea in the campaign.

Those convicted of domestic violence, or are under a restraining order, could be forced to wear an electronic bracelet that can locate the wearer and ensure he goes nowhere near anyone who could be seen as a potential victim.

The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women”.

The objective is to raise awareness that women around the world are constantly subject to rape, domestic and other acts of violence, and to highlight the fact that the extent and complexity of the issue is often hidden.

 

Watch out for further developments—you can get up to date information here on the France 24 website.

 


Have you been following this issue? Join the conversation below in comments or on twitter @MaVieFrancaise


Image credits
1. People take part in a protest to condemn violence against women in Paris via Daily News
2. Emmanuel Macron, President of France, via Wikipedia
3. Eduard Philippe, Prime Minister of France, via Wikipedia

 

About the Contributor

Ray Johnstone

Ray is an artist & writer. His favourite subjects are nudes and portraits. Art holidays for groups & families are catered for in their 800-year-old house La Petite Galerie in Gascony. They also take up to 6 walkers on the 'best bits' of the Pilgrims Route to Compostela. Check out Ray's 100+ articles - he has his own column called 'Perspectives'

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