While yesterday, we learned of the death of Jacqueline Sauvage, victim of domestic violence for years and having murdered her husband, many questions arise about the impact that this affair had in France and what progress we can see and even still hope about domestic violence.
He is an emblematic figure in the fight against domestic violence who died on July 23. Jacqueline Sauvage had marked the whole of France. After 47 years of living under the blows of her husband, she kills him with three shots in the back on September 10, 2012. Subsequently, she is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for murder. This court decision brought deferred self-defense back to the heart of the debate. At that time, public opinion was indignant at the lack of consideration of this woman as well as the psychological and physical ordeal she endured during all these years. Finally, François Hollande, president of the republic, will grant him a total presidential pardon. The media coverage of this case brought the subject of domestic violence back to the forefront. A real awareness has been generated on the psychological pressure suffered by victims, questioning the definition of self-defense.
There are plenty of Jacqueline Sauvage in France and around the world
If a silence has broken around this scourge, what about from a legislative point of view? What are the advances that have been observed? Which ones are still pending? Muriel Robin spoke last night about the death of Jacqueline Sauvage, whom she rubbed shoulders with and played in a TV movie: Jacqueline Sauvage: it was him or me on TF1. Sure Europe 1, the actress and humorist reminded that the case of Jacqueline Sauvage is far from being isolated in France: "Jacqueline's suffering will not have served for nothing. On the other hand, the suffering of many others, more than 300 per year, is not heard. There are plenty of Jacqueline Sauvage in France and in the world. We are not doing enough for them. Who will have these corpses on our conscience? We have made progress with the case of Jacqueline Sauvage, but at the same time we are moving back. We will continue to fight. "
A Grenelle of domestic violence that caused debate
In 2019, the government of Emmanuel Macron launched a Grenelle on domestic violence. Several measures have been announced. A listening number, 3919, was made available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, not to mention the installation of an anti-reconciliation bracelet to further protect the victims of their tormentors. But some decisions were not unanimous. Indeed, when last November, Edouard Phillipe announced the budget which will be devoted solely to domestic violence, feminist associations have not found satisfaction. The former prime minister announced that a billion euros would be devoted to equality between women and men by the government. Within this budget, he announced that 360 million will be specifically dedicated to the fight against domestic violence. Nevertheless, the associations hoped for a billion devoted solely to this cause.
We give billions to save the economy of our country, how can we not find a billion to fight domestic violence?
Collectives like us all are supported by such a figure thanks to a report published at the time by the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, the Women's Foundation, the Fund for Women in the Mediterranean, the Haut-Conseil à l ' equality between women and men and Women's Worldwide Web. This report affirmed that the financial need amounted to 506 million euros if this only took into account the complaints that were filed over the past year. If we also consider violence that does not lead to complaints, the adequate budget to protect victims amounts to a total of one billion. Muriel Robin, herself, returned to the subject at the microphone of Europe 1 : "We give billions to save the economy of our country, how can we not find a billion to fight domestic violence? I do not understand how we cannot find it."
New measures during confinement
During confinement, the risk of an increase in domestic violence was considerable. Indeed, the confinement further isolating the victims, Marlene Schiappa, at the time Secretary of State for Gender Equality, had set up a new device allowing women suffering the blows of their spouses to ask for help discreetly. The device included issuing an alert by going to the pharmacy: "The possibly beaten woman goes there without her husband so that she can raise the alarm in the pharmacy and then we can intervene immediately to protect her " declared Christophe Castaner, Minister of the Interior. The figures fell recently, revealing that 500,000 people have been supported in pharmacies and shopping centers since the implementation of this device. Thus, the recent report recommends maintaining these reception points and also training pharmacists to support victims.
Also according to this latest report published by the government, during confinement, 7 women were killed by their partner. In addition, a total of 2,900 acts of domestic violence were recorded by the courts during confinement. Regarding calls to 3919, 45,000 were made from March 17 to May 11, a period in which the entire country was confined because of the health crisis. All this is without counting the explosion of calls for help via the online chat available to support victims of domestic violence.
Forced suicide recognized as an aggravating circumstance
From a legislative point of view, certain advances should be mentioned. On July 21, the Senate finally voted on a flagship measure of the bill aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence: forced suicide has entered the Penal Code in the same way as influence. Isolation, denigration, harassment, financial dependence … All these elements are taken into account in the reasons for the suicide of a victim of violence. The penalties for the perpetrator are now 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of 150,000 euros. France thus becomes the first country in Europe to criminalize forced suicide: "10 after the recognition of psychological violence in the couple, the notion of forced suicide is in logical continuity " Lawyer Yael Mellul explained to us, who participated in the implementation of this bill when the Grenelle was launched last November.
The end of medical confidentiality in the event of danger for victims of domestic violence
On July 16, the LREM bill aimed at breaking medical secrecy was passed by the National Assembly. Doctors can now lift medical confidentiality when their patients, victims of violence, are in "a case of immediate danger." If this law must now pass before the Senate, it has generated a lot of debate. Indeed, many people, mostly medical professions, have some reservations about this. The ability to lift medical confidentiality could weaken the trust established between a doctor and his patient.
To see also:
Domestic violence: nearly 45,000 calls received during confinement
| "We are talking about 150 corpses per year" |