Domestic violence, who to contact?

In its report of July 2019, the Delegation of Assistance to Victims (DAV) made public the figures for homicides within the couple for the year 2018. 149 homicides thus took place within couples, including 121 women and 28 men. Women are the main victims of domestic violence: 78% of victims of domestic violence recorded by the police and gendarmerie services are women, according to figures from the Observatory of violence against women.

It is thus estimated that in France every 2,8 days, a woman dies from the beatings of her abusive partner. 225 women per year on average are victims of physical or sexual violence committed by their former or current partner. 3 in 4 women victims say they have suffered repeated acts, and 8 out of 10 female victims state that they have also been subjected to psychological attacks or verbal assaults.

Hence the importance of putting in place concrete measures to protect victims of domestic violence and help them break the vicious circle, before it is too late.

Domestic violence: particularly favorable contexts

If violence within the couple can unfortunately occur at any time, without there necessarily being warning signs, it has been observed that certain contexts, certain situations, increase the risk for a woman to suffer acts of violence, and for a man to commit such acts. Here are a few :

  • -conflicts or dissatisfaction in the couple;
  • – male dominance in the family;
  • -pregnancy and arrival of a child;
  • -announcement of an effective separation or separation;
  • – forced union;
  • -social isolation ;
  • -stress and stressful situations (economic problems, tensions in the couple, etc.);
  • – men with multiple partners;
  • – age gap within the couple, especially when the victim is in the lower age bracket than the spouse;
  • -difference between educational levels, when the woman is more educated than her male partner.

La alcohol consumption is also a risk factor for domestic violence, found in 22 to 55% of perpetrators and 8 to 25% of victims. It is associated with more severe consequences of violence, but is often associated with other risk factors or situations.

What protections are possible for victims of domestic violence?

If you have a filing complaint, immediate protective measures can be taken by the criminal judge, such as the prohibition for the perpetrator to approach the victim, to frequent certain places, the concealment of the address of the victim, the obligation of a follow-up for the author or even his placement in provisional detention and the granting of a telephone of protection, says “phone serious danger”, Or TGD.

The serious danger telephone has a dedicated key, allowing the victim to join, in the event of serious danger, the remote assistance service accessible 7 days a week and 7 hours a day. If the situation so requires, this service immediately alerts the police. This device also allows the geolocation of the beneficiary.

Unknown and still too little used, another system can be put in place before or after filing a complaint for domestic violence. It is the protection order, issued by the family court judge. A highly protective emergency measure, the protection order can be quickly implemented, since the procedural delays are quite rapid (approximately 1 month). To do this, it is necessary to seize the judge in family cases by a request delivered or addressed to the Registry, with the copies of the documents demonstrating the danger to which one is exposed (medical certificates, handbooks or complaints, copies of SMS, recordings, etc.) . There are models of requests on the internet, but one can also be assisted for this by an association or a lawyer.

It is also possible, on request, to benefit temporarily from legal aid to cover legal fees and any bailiff and interpreter fees.

The judge can then, if the protection order is decided, put in place a number of protective measures for the victim, but also for the couple’s children if there are any. He will be able to see again the terms of parental authority, the contribution to household expenses and the contribution to the maintenance and education of children. It is also possible to obtain a ban on leaving the country for children.

Failure to comply with the measures imposed by the protection order constitutes an offense punishable by two years imprisonment and € 15 fine. It is therefore possible to file a complaint if the aggressor does not comply with these measures.

Domestic violence: structures and associations to contact

Well designed, the stop-violences-femmes.gouv.fr site lists all the structures and associations present in France to help victims of violence, whether it is violence within the couple or of another kind. (assault, physical or sexual violence…). A search tool allows you to quickly find the associations near your home. There are no less than 248 structures in France dealing with violence within the couple.

Among the various structures and associations fighting against violence against women, and in particular domestic violence, we can cite two major ones:

  • The CIDFF

The national network of 114 Information Centers on the Rights of Women and Families (CIDFF, led by the CNIDFF), offers specialized information and support services for women victims of violence. Professional teams (lawyers, psychologists, social workers, family and marriage counselors, etc.) are also present to support women in their efforts, lead discussion groups, etc. The list of CIDFF in France and the general website www.infofemmes.com.

  • La FNSF

The National Federation of Women Solidarity is a network bringing together for twenty years, feminist associations engaged in the fight against all forms of violence against women, in particular those which occur within the couple and the family. The FNSF has been managing the national listening service for 15 years: 3919. Its website: solidaritefemmes.org.

  • Le 3919, Violences Femmes Info

3919 is a number intended for women victims of violence, as well as those around them and the professionals concerned. It is a national and anonymous listening number, accessible and free from a landline in mainland France and the overseas departments.

The number is open Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 22 p.m. and public holidays 10 a.m. to 20 p.m. (except January 1, May 1 and December 25). This number makes it possible to listen, provide information, and, depending on requests, an appropriate orientation towards local support and care systems. That said, it is not an emergency number. In an emergency, it is advisable to call 15 (Samu), 17 (Police), 18 (Firemen) or 112 (European emergency number).

What steps should you take if you are a victim of domestic violence?

We can, at first, and if we are not in immediate danger, call the specific number, 3919, which will guide us according to our situation. But other steps must also be taken to put an end to the violence: they include filing a complaint.

Whether the facts are old or recent, the police and gendarmes have the obligation to register a complaint, even if a medical certificate is not available. If you do not wish to lodge a complaint, you can first report the violence by making a statement on handrail (police) or a judicial intelligence report (gendarmerie). This is evidence in subsequent prosecutions. A receipt for the statement should be given to the victim, along with a full copy of their statement, if requested.

If the prior obtaining ofa medical certificate of observation with a general practitioner is not mandatory to file a complaint for domestic violence, it is still desirable. Indeed, the medical certificate constitutes one of the pieces of evidence of violence suffered in the context of legal proceedings, even if the victim lodges a complaint several months later. In addition, a medical examination may be ordered by the police or gendarmerie as part of the investigation.

The criminal judge cannot pronounce protective measures and take legal action against the perpetrator only if a report has been made.

This report can be made to either the police or the gendarmerie, or the public prosecutor by the victim himself, by a witness or a person with knowledge of the violence. In case of doubt or questions about the steps to take, contact 3919, who will advise you.

What to do at the very moment of domestic violence?

Call:

– 17 (emergency police) or 112 from a cell phone

– the 18 (fire brigade)

– number 15 (medical emergencies), or use number 114 for the hearing impaired.

To take shelter, you have the right to leave the home. As soon as possible, go to the police or gendarmerie to report it. Also remember to consult a doctor to have a medical certificate drawn up.

What to do if you witness domestic violence?

If you witness domestic violence in your entourage, or if you have any doubts about a case of domestic violence, report it, for example to the police, the social service of your town hall, victim support associations. Do not hesitate to suggest that the victim accompany them to file a complaint, or tell them that there are professionals and associations who can help them and in whom they can confide. Also call 17, especially when the situation represents a serious and immediate danger for the victim.

With regard to the victim of domestic violence, it is advisable to:

  • – do not question the victim’s story, nor reduce the responsibility of the aggressor;
  • -avoid having a complacent attitude with the aggressor, who seeks to shift the responsibility onto the victim;
  • -support the victim after the fact, and put the real words on what happened (with phrases like “The law prohibits and punishes these acts and words”, “the aggressor is solely responsible”, “I can accompany you to the police”, “I can write a testimony for you in which I describe what I saw / heard ”…);
  • -respect the will of the victim and not take a decision for him (except in cases of serious and immediate danger);
  • -his transmit any evidence et a solid testimony whether she wishes to report the facts to the police;
  • -if the victim does not wish to file a complaint immediately, leave her contact details, so she knows where to look for support if she changes her mind (because making the decision to file a complaint may take time for a victim, particularly with regard to intimate partner violence and sexual violence).

Note that this advice also applies when a victim of domestic violence confides in someone who has not directly witnessed the violence.

Sources and additional information: 

  • https://www.stop-violences-femmes.gouv.fr
  • https://www.stop-violences-femmes.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/depliant_violences_web-3.pdf

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