Secretary of State for Gender Equality, Marlène Schiappa, announced on Saturday the installation of " ephemeral support points " in shopping centers to accommodate women victims of violence in times of confinement where travel is limited . " As it is more difficult to get around, we make sure that the support systems go to women, " explains Ms. Schiappa in an interview with Le Parisien.
Read also: Containment: domestic violence on the rise
Created " in partnership with local associations, government departments and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, manager of shopping centers ", these " ephemeral support points " will be installed in premises " allowing confidentiality but large enough to accommodate women respecting the barrier measures ”, she explains.
The Secretary of State quotes " firstly " for the Paris region So Ouest in Levallois-Perret, 4 Temps in La Défense, Carré Sénart in Lieusaint, the Forum des Halles in Paris, or Les Ulis, and, in the North, V2 in Valenciennes. " In a second step, Dijon, Rennes, Lyon ... where there is an open hypermarket ," she adds, claiming to aim for " around twenty points in the coming weeks ". " By going shopping, these women will find an attentive ear and access to their rights in an innovative and effective way, " she believes.
Special fund and filing of complaints
At the same time, Mrs. Schiappa announces a " special fund financed by the state of one million euros to help associations in the field to adapt to the period ". She also promises to finance " up to 20,000 hotel nights so that women can flee the violent man ".
Asked about the absence of a "reason for filing a complaint" in the compulsory exit certificate during confinement, the Secretary of State replied that " the courts for domestic violence " had been left open.
Read also: "A small increase but nothing significant": domestic violence at the time of confinement
She put forward the figure of "two" murders of women by their spouses or ex-spouses since the start of confinement on March 17. " Containment is a collective ordeal that strikes the family and personal history of each person, the situation can escalate at any time when you live with a violent person ," she recalls, worried that " women say that 'they must endure during confinement '. " No! State mechanisms are not put on hold, they are even reinforced, ”she says.