“It’s deplorable”: in Toulouse, a collective reacts to the figures of the Observatory of violence against women
By Nina Hossein-Zadeh
Published on
On October 21, 2021, the Departmental Council and the Haute-Garonne prefecture joined forces in the launch of the Observatory of violence against women a Toulouse and in the department. In connection with institutional and associative partners, its objective was clear. For its actors, it is a question of “strengthening the prevention and the fight against violence against women and domestic violence”. On November 28, 2022, this observatory published its data collection. One after its creation, what assessment?
Violence still very present
Daily, the violence is multiple. Verbal, administrative, economic, physical or sexual, all are the demonstration of “historically unequal power relations between women and men”, according to the definition of the European Convention of Istanbul, adopted in 2014 by France. Sandrine Floureusses, Vice-President of the Departmental Council in charge of Citizen Dialogue, Equality and Youth in Haute-Garonne adds the notion of disrespect. “It is a term widely used by young people and I find this definition to be fair and essential”.
Over the year 2021, this violence against women is still very present in Haute-Garonne. The recent Observatory four feminicides, 390 sexual violence, 1998 physical violence, or 385 psychological violence. AboutToulouse, the rise of femicides and attempted feminicides is 100% between 2020 and 2021. As for rape, the Observatory of violence against women in Haute-Garonne recorded an increase of 142% between those same years.
These increases are due to several reasons. “Any period of crisis has engendered a climate of violence. In 2021, the health crisis was still very present. Added to this are economic and social tensions that continue today,” explains the vice-president. In addition, there is a freedom of speech which is accompanied by an increase in the filing of complaints. “It was one of the main issues for the Observatory, that complaints were taken, which was not the case before. So it’s encouraged. »
In Occitania, the lights are red
In view of these figures, Meline Lagarde, a member of We All 31, is speechless. “It’s deplorable,” she finally declared. For her, what is very revealing “is that the aggressors can act with impunity. For example, in France, according to the data raised by his collective, only 0.6% of rapists are convicted and 94% of minor victims of sexual violence are left with the aggressor.
Another significant fact, the Occitania region is the most exposed in matters of domestic violence. According to a national study on violent deaths within the couple in 2021 produced by the Ministry of the Interior and Overseas, 19 victims were registered. Méline Lagarde has fun nervously. For her, the problem comes from the very top. “When you have a minister like Darmanin, accused of rape, and you leave him at his post, nothing moves. It is an infernal circle”.
She confirms it: within her collective, she has received many messages on the networks of abused women. “We are there to listen to them of course, but we are not professionals so we direct them to the right people,” she explains. Sometimes, “it’s the double penalty”, adds the feminist, since some victims complain about their care.
Remain lucid and continue the efforts
Ancient security forces, members of the judiciary or even medico-social actors to receive women victims of violence, this is however what the Observatory highlights. According to its data collection for the year 2021, 1,454 security personnel were trained during six webinars. “These interprofessional days are on a voluntary basis. During these meetings, we break down walls and borders so that each trade can work together,” says Sandrine Floureusses. Together, they are working to develop a common language to stem violence against women.
“We have to keep working, unlock resources and emergency housing so that women and children are not bathed in violence,” said Sandrine Floureusses.
For the coming year, the Departmental Council of Haute-Garonne wishes to focus its efforts on the justice system. The granting of protective orders, the handing over of anti-reconciliation bracelets and serious danger telephones will be at the heart of the discussions.
To know :
As a reminder, in France, 94,000 women are victims of rape or attempted rape each year according to the Insee “Living and security environment” survey report. More than one in two women has already suffered harassment or sexual assault according to the results of the survey “French people’s views on sexual violence and harassment”, produced in 2017 by Odoxa for Le Figaro and France Info. According to article 15-3 of the code of procedure, no police officer or gendarme can refuse to take the complaint of a victim. In case of violence, contact 3919 available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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