Published on: 08/11/2024 – 11:51

2 minutes

The annual report of the Ministerial Statistical Service for Internal Security (ISMS) indicates a 10 percent increase in recorded cases between 2022 and 2023. This increase is partly attributed to more open media coverage and better reception conditions for victims.

Women represent 85 percent of victims, while men are the alleged perpetrators in 86 percent of cases, most of them of French nationality.

“This doubling since 2016 shows that more and more women are taking the step of filing a complaint, which is excellent news,” said Anne-Cécile Mailfert, president of the association. Women’s Foundation.

“Now, the budgets must follow… we need additional resources to support, investigate, hear, judge and above all support the victims who, as soon as they file a complaint, put themselves in danger.”

Mailfert highlighted the risk of reprisals from partners or ex-partners.

Physical attacks and homicides

The Home Office reports that two thirds of domestic violence cases involve physical assault.

Verbal or psychological violence, including harassment, threats, invasion of privacy and defamation, represents 32% of cases.

Four percent of cases involve sexual violence, and some incidents of psychological violence led to suicides or suicide attempts, according to the report.

In total there were 115 domestic homicides and 437 attempted murders in 2023. The northern departments of Pas-de-Calais, Nord, Somme and Seine-Saint-Denis, as well as the overseas territory of Réunion, recorded the highest rates of domestic violence per 1,000 inhabitants aged 15 to 15. 64.

Incomplete data

The report notes that official figures do not fully reflect the scale of domestic violence, as many incidents go unreported. A SSMSI investigation showed that only 14 percent of victims filed complaints with security forces in 2022.

“Police forces are improving their practices, but now is not the time to brag; we need to redouble our efforts,” said Mine Gunbay, director general of the National Federation of Solidarity of women.

“There is still a lot to do,” recognizes Ernestine Ronai, head of Observatory of Violence against Women in Seine-Saint-Denis.

“We must enable women to have confidence in the security forces and the justice system, and we need all professionals who work with female victims to be trained.”

Secretary of State to Gender equality Salima Saa committed in a press release on Wednesday to announcing “concrete and effective measures” on November 25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

These measures will aim to improve awareness among victims, particularly in rural areas, and strengthen support and care through training for frontline workers and additional resources for victim support.