“The numbers remain cold,” laments Minister Isabelle Roma
These numbers remain chilling. What’s hard to see is that they’re not really falling, and unprecedented efforts have been made over the past five years. I am content to say this because at the time, as a senior officer in charge of equality between women and men at the Ministry of Justice, I was coordinating Grenelle’s work on domestic violence.
What changes have you seen in this position?
We have developed tools to protect victims, such as ‘critical threat’ phones. there is…
These numbers remain chilling. What’s hard to see is that they’re not really falling, and unprecedented efforts have been made over the past five years. I am content to say this because at the time, as a senior officer in charge of equality between women and men at the Ministry of Justice, I was coordinating Grenelle’s work on domestic violence.
What changes have you seen in this position?
We have developed tools to protect victims, such as ‘critical threat’ phones. In 2019, it was 300, today it is more than 4300. This means 1,500 law enforcement interventions in one year. Note also the introduction of a generalized anti-reconciliation bracelet since 2021: more than 900 deployed to date, and as many women are sure that they will not meet their (former) spouse unexpectedly. Another breakthrough: prevention of recidivism. After prosecuting femicides as the Presiding Judge of the Serious Crimes Court, I saw that some of the defendants had already been convicted. The purpose of the creation of these 30 treatment centers for criminals, which I announced a few days ago in Limoges and which have already received 12,000 people, is to solve this violence before it happens again. Of course we have to go further, which I have tried to do since I arrived. So I got more than 15% increase in my budget. Also strengthened, 39 19 means, listening and orientation number: will receive 5.9 million euros in 2023 (+ 400% in five years).
Are the tools in a serious phone and anti-compromise bracelet enough?
They continued to grow: 4,300 seriously dangerous phones are in the hands of women; 4,800 people have been deployed (target 6,000 in 2023). There have never been any restrictions on anti-peace bracelets.
“This is a long-term struggle and we must never relax our efforts.”
Spain succeeded in preventing feminicide, why not France?
The large-scale policy implemented in Spain has produced very concrete results and is a source of inspiration. Moreover, two weeks ago I was in Spain to meet with my colleague, Minister Irene Montero. It should be noted that the main law in Spain, called the integral protection law, dates back to 2004, and it took several years to have an impact. The Grenelle of domestic violence in France starts in 2019. Spain started fifteen years ago. This is a long-term struggle, for which we must never slacken our efforts. Nevertheless, I believe that we are well on our way to achieving this integral protection system that began in 39 19. And it continues with the reception in the police and gendarmerie services, where a special way for victims is common. mass participation of social workers (150 in 2019; 415 today, target 600 in 2025), training of law enforcement agencies. Later, a more specific treatment of violence by the courts and work on recidivism.
What is room for improvement?
The room for improvement is in the concept of specialization: this violence is not like other violence. If we are not extremely well trained, we risk leaving a destroyed woman in a dangerous situation if we do not realize that she is having great difficulty standing. Moreover, the Prime Minister announced that the number of specialized investigators will be doubled. Then, you need to go to a trained and specialized graduate school. In this sense a the mission was entrusted by the prime minister to two parliamentarians, Representative Emilie Chandler and Senator Dominique Verien to review the legal status of this violence and make recommendations.
What are the upcoming events?
In view of the fact that the victim is further weakened if he does not have financial resources, I proposed the creation of Elizabeth Borne. “fresh start” package. Specifically, it is a series of measures that can be applied very easily: it is a benefit, emergency accommodation, childcare system, psychological assistance, etc. can be. We are in the process of building this system together with other relevant ministries, the experiment will start in January 2023, when the inter-ministerial committee will also meet to develop a plan for gender equality within four years.
When reading Christelle Taraud’s book (“Féminicides, une histoire mondial”), it appears that feminicides originate from the patriarchal structure of society. At the political level, how can we act on these examples?
