Victim of domestic violence?

The two months of confinement in France led to an increase in domestic violence, which represented the bulk of police custody during this period (according to the article in Le Monde of April 25, 2020 "Domestic violence: "Confinement has become an additional tool for the aggressors"). In Europe there is even a 60% increase in calls from women victims of domestic violence during confinement.

#How to react if you are a victim or witness of domestic violence or if you suspect it?

Domestic violence is a voluntary attack on the integrity of the other, a hold, a conditioning from which it is difficult to get out when one is a victim. It is not only physical or sexual, but can also be psychological. It is the most frequent form of violence against women in France: every year, ten out of one hundred women between the ages of 20 and 59 are victims of violence from their partner. This is also the case for three men out of a hundred (according to an article in Monde of April 10, 2015 "Battered men: figures to understand an unknown reality"). However, fear, loss of self-confidence, denial or shame lead only one woman in five victims of domestic violence to file a complaint.

#Who are the victims of domestic violence?

There is no typical profile of a woman who is a victim of domestic violence and any woman can one day in her life find herself under the influence of a spouse who often has two faces (charming in society and torturer at home). It should also be noted that men can also be victims of their partner. In all cases, the victim is never responsible for the violence she suffers.

#What to do if you are a victim, a witness, or if you suspect domestic violence?

The first thing to do when accompanying a victim of domestic violence is to let her know that you understand what was happening and that you are ready to support her without judgment.

Reassure and value the victim and use the technique of rephrasing, i.e. rephrasing all or part of what she says to show that we are listening carefully and trying to understand what she is telling us, without questioning her words at any time.

Avoid asking questions that are too direct, recounting your personal experiences or letting her know how you see things. It is also very important to respect her choices if she does not want more concrete help, even if you do not understand them.

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Six years since France ratified the Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, yet in France, many women are still victims of violence by their spouses and these have even increased during confinement, representing the bulk of police custody. To date, @noustoutesorg counts 49 feminicides, since January 1, 2020. Domestic violence can be physical, psychological and sexual. Fear, loss of self-confidence, denial or shame lead only one woman out of five victims of domestic violence to file a complaint. If you are a victim, a witness or if you suspect domestic violence, we advise you to consult the sites infofemmes.com, planning-familial.org, fondationdesfemmes.org, solidaritefemmes.org, ellesimaginent.fr or service-public.fr to find answers to your questions, listening and support. Several techniques have also emerged to alert those around you if you are a victim of domestic violence: write a black dot in the palm of your hand or alert your pharmacist by asking for a "mask 19". ... victim is never responsible for the violence she suffers.

A publication shared by Lingerie Menstruelle Française (@elia.lingerie) on Jul. 4, 2020 at 2:00 PDT