The current epidemic should not make us lose sight of the need to fight against feminicides. Two tragedies still occurred Thursday, October 29. Containment should not explode their numbers.
78 feminicides since the start of 2020. This macabre count has been held by the collective "Feminicides by companions or ex" which has been holding it since 2016. "The Interior Ministry published its figures every year, but it was found that these women were completely anonymous. Saying once a year 'a woman dies every three days', 'a woman dies under the beatings of her husband' … it felt like it was inevitable, a bit like car accidents. " explains Lisa, one of its activists. However, behind its figures, we find individual lives, crushed by a reality still far too shared: violence against women, at all ages and in all walks of life.
In France, nearly 1,400 women have been killed in ten years by their partner or ex-spouse.
Thursday, October 29, 2020, the collective noted thanks to its daily local press review two new dramas, in Angers and Valle-d'Alesani. One was strangled, the other was the victim of a gun. The violence of these femicides horrifies once again. Women represent more than 80% of spousal homicide victims.
The fight against feminicides was presented as part of the government's priorities to protect women. Measures exist to avoid these tragedies: protection order, serious telephone danger, anti-reconciliation bracelet. Le Monde has devoted a fascinating survey to this subject which explores the mechanisms at work in this phenomenon: "a man wants to own 'his' wife, she tries to escape him, he kills her." Also concluding with a terrifying observation: the warning signals that announce them could have prevented most of these tragedies.
The Nous Tous collective, associated with this count and this alert on feminicides, reminds us that during a period of confinement, it is forbidden to go out, not to flee.
The Maison des Femmes, aufeminin partner, reminded us during the first confinement of the actions that can save: "If you feel a change in behavior in a confined loved one, if she never has the possibility of isolating herself to communicate with you, if she talks to you about tensions in her relationship or changes in behavior in her spouse, do not trivialize not his words, stay tuned. They may be warning signs. " It is the same for the neighbors. If you hear suspicious yelling or arguing that makes you uncomfortable, you probably need to intervene. In this specific case, ringing the bell on the couple's house with some pretext could well save a life.
We will not forget these missing women, and we await justice for them.
Useful numbers:
If calling 39.19 creates a risk, it is always possible to trigger the alert discreetly by sending a text to 114.
In case of emergency, call the police and the gendarmerie on 17.
SOS Viols-Femmes-Information responds to alerts at this number: 0800 05 95 95.
If some phone points are overloaded and do not answer, it is important to insist and try them all, in order to maximize your chances of getting help, until someone answers your call.