The convention was signed Thursday, November 25 in Perpignan, during the international day against violence against women.
Six victim assistance associations, the prefecture, the department, the gendarmerie and the public prosecutor were present to jointly deploy a new service: the free provision of bracelets for women in danger.
Read also Feminicides in 2020: nearly one in five victims had already lodged a complaint
Connected to the App-Elles application, these bracelets can alert a loved one (among three selected contacts) to the threat of an assault. Once triggered, the signal can also be geolocated and record audio in real time. “This can serve as proof,” emphasizes Pascaline Robert-Clément, delegate for women's rights at the prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales. But it is also part of a comprehensive support for victims, with the cooperation of many organizations in the legal, psychological or social field ... It is this grouping of eleven partners, public and private, which makes the device specific ”.
Among the project leaders, the France Victimes 66 association experimented with the connected bracelet for two years. And today provides it free of charge in its premises to those who feel the need. "App-Elles was first developed by the Nantes association Résonantes," specifies Karine Chauvet, director of France Victimes 66. We have thought about how to distribute and supervise it, to carry out real monitoring and improve the charged. And we made contact for this with family planning, the Perpignan prosecutor's office, the departmental council, etc. The association now has around sixty bracelets available (and probably soon more). “We had very positive initial feedback,” says Karine Chauvet. Women feel more secure even if they don't use it.It gives them or restores their confidence. "
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I activated my bracelet at this point, my brother-in-law came in and called the police.
It is very effective
Virginie, 38, recently used this “new support tool” which, she says, “saved her life”.
Faced with an alcoholic spouse who became violent, the young woman "lived through hell".
One evening, when she surprises him with another companion under their own roof, the situation escalates to the point of blows.
“I activated my bracelet at that point, my brother-in-law came and called the police.
It is very effective ”.
The audio recording of the scene then allowed Virginia to substantiate her complaint.
Her ex-spouse has since been placed under judicial supervision and no longer has the right to approach her.
“It could have ended very badly otherwise, breaths the victim.
This bracelet really changed everything!
Its big advantage is that it is discreet and aesthetic, it goes unnoticed, unlike a telephone, for example, which can be snatched from your hands… I hope it can be of use to many other women ”.
In 2020, in France, the police recorded 159,400 victims of domestic violence (+ 10% over one year), including 139,200 women.
102 feminicides were also committed last year.
