“My grandmother would have been very moved.
This tribute shows that her fights are still relevant today..." The day after International Women's Rights Day, Maud Halimi inaugurated the new space which bears the name of her illustrious relative: the lawyer and tireless activist Gisèle Halimi.
This Saturday, March 9, when Nadège Azzaz, the mayor (PS) of Châtillon (Hauts-de-Seine) speaks, the premises on Allée Peyronnet are crowded.
Elected officials, feminist and/or community activists, ordinary residents and a few men too, are flocking to this inauguration.
Numerous initiatives undertaken by the municipality in favor of women
“What brings us together this morning is the development of women, it is THE fight that concerns no less than half of humanity,” insists the elected official.
And to recall the initiatives carried out in his municipality in this area: signing of the local contract against sexual and gender-based violence, regular training of all city agents on these issues, provision of free hygienic protection in municipal social structures, etc.
“Women of my generation know what they owe to their predecessors,” insists Nadège Azzaz before discussing “the supreme legal consecration” of the right to abortion, now enshrined in the Constitution and returning to Gisèle’s journey. Halimi, died in July 2020.
Châtillon (Hauts-de-Seine), March 9.
Nadège Azzaz, the PS mayor, paid a vibrant tribute to Gisèle Halimi, a pugnacious lawyer and tireless activist for the cause of women.
In the audience, many women have already benefited from the workshops set up by the city.
For several months, Sylvie, in her early forties, has been following the course on self-esteem.
“In 2021, I had postpartum depression,” remembers the young woman.
It is this device which prevents tumbling.
“I saw it as an opportunity to seize,” she adds.
The former teacher, now in retraining, has gone back on track.
“He took my head out of the water, gave me confidence,” analyzes Sylvie.
I got out of my comfort zone, I met people I didn't know.
Yes, I had a lot of doubts but I found a smile again and I have lots of projects!
All this transformed the vicious cycle of depression into a virtuous circle.
»
“As soon as we are in public space, we feel threatened”
A little further on, Évelyne, member of the Femmes solidaires de Malakoff association, does not say the opposite.
“I did the sophrology workshop,” explains the septuagenarian.
It brought me serenity.
But above all, we find here a very wide range of services…” Various documentation, multimedia space, nutritionist, sport, shared meals etc., the program covers all possible fields.
A small group in black t-shirts inevitably caught the eye.
“Together for the Châtillonnaises” was created three years ago to study the place of women in the city.
The team notably carried out exploratory walks in order to establish the places where the feeling of insecurity was most acute.
The results are not encouraging.
Also read: Festivals, campuses, metro… What are these “safe” spaces that everyone is talking about?
“As soon as we are in public space, we feel threatened,” says Angie.
This is especially true on public transport.
When I leave the metro, I finally breathe but overall, I am constantly on the lookout.
»
The activist is aware of this, the miracle solution does not exist.
Strengthening the lighting in the streets does not solve the problem, far from it.
“We need long and collective education work,” she says.
We still have some tools that reassure us..." Like, she says, The Sorority application, launched by a women's association, which allows you to sound the alert when you are in danger...