Nantes: at the university, an agreement signed to facilitate the reporting of sexual assaults


In early 2023, an anonymous questionnaire will also be sent to Nantes students to find out if they themselves have been victims of sexual violence.

Le Figaro Nantes

“Facilitate the care of students, Nantes University and CROUS staff, who are victims of sexual or gender-based violence” : this was the purpose of the convention presented Thursday, November 24, 2022 by the president of the University of Nantes Carine Bernault, in front of an audience of students and staff. This document, signed by the public prosecutor’s office, the gendarmes, the police, the prefecture, the Crous and the France Victimes 44 Nantes association, should make it easier to report and deal with situations of sexism, harassment or sexual assault.

As soon as there is a revelation, we have to be quick to initiate the investigation and then the prosecution“, underlined the public prosecutor of Nantes, Renaud Gaudeul, while welcoming a long-term initiative. At a time when the first conferences against sexist violence are being held in the city, “you wanted to put this subject in time, by making this subject a concern not only of November 25 [Journée internationale de lutte contre les violences faites aux femmes, ndlr]not only of the month of November, but of the 365 days of the year”.

Raising awareness and supporting victims

Regarding support for victims, Renaud Gaudeul recalled the allocation of serious danger telephones, allowing a victim to immediately alert an assistance service: “ the Nantes prosecutor’s office has distributed 59 since the start of the year. Two years ago, there were only 16, and 31 last year “. The anti-reconciliation bracelets, which geolocate the victim and the perpetrator of violence, also arouse great interest: “ the Nantes public prosecutor’s office is the third public prosecutor’s office in France in terms of the number of bracelets issued for the benefit of victims “.

Laurent Le Gentil, second in command of the gendarmerie region, for his part insisted on the contexts relating to these attacks. “I’m thinking of festive contexts, alcoholism, taking narcotics: I invite you to be vigilant towards your friends. This is where the difficulties come in“, he warned. While emphasizing that ” drinking alcohol cannot be an excuse for the aggressor. Never. The victim who took alcohol is not consenting. This should in no way inhibit his approach to coming to the services. She will be accompanied “.

I agree with General Le Gentil: in the festive middle of the night, watch out for excesses of all kinds. Consent is important in these kinds of cases. Sometimes it is not clear. When you go out, you have to be vigilant “, added Nicolas Jolibois, departmental director of public security, evoking the presence of referent police officers in the faculties to raise awareness on these subjects.

A questionnaire sent to Nantes students

This agreement meets the expectations of young women who are peacefully pursuing their studies. A recent survey by the Student Observatory of Sexual Violence counted some rather heavy statistics: one student in 10 said they had been the victim of sexual assault at least once, and one in 20 of rape during her higher education, which is extremely worrying.“, for his part commented François Drapé, director of cabinet of the prefect of Loire-Atlantique.

In early 2023, an anonymous questionnaire will be sent to Nantes students to find out if they themselves have been victims of sexual violence. “ The distribution of this questionnaire may bring up results that will turn us upside down. “, anticipates Carine Bernault, the president. Signing the agreement is thus a means of anticipating the results of this future survey.

SEE ALSO – A former member of the Superior Council of the Judiciary found guilty of sexual assault in Paris



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