On the occasion of the day to combat violence against women, the Carcassonne hospital center organized an event to raise awareness of this societal phenomenon. The opportunity to take stock with those involved in the fight against this violence in the Aude department.
Last year, there were 1,805 victims of domestic violence in the Aude department, 70% of which were domestic violence. If the figures for 2024 have not yet been finalized, it seems that there is an increase in cases recorded in the department in the first half of the year. Although it is undoubtedly “an increase in reports rather than facts”underlines Benoît Savouré, departmental delegate for Women's Rights, the scourge continues, while the day to combat violence against women was held this Monday, November 25. On this occasion, the Carcassonne hospital center organized an information and awareness afternoon for hospital users. “It is also an opportunity to create a network between all the actors in this fight, from caregivers to associations including the police”specified the Dr Gendron, emergency doctor at the hospital center. A way, also, to take stock of the means put in place in the department to fight against this violence.
Since 2020, filing a complaint has been made easier, directly within the Carcassonne hospital center, “even if it is true that we could activate this lever more”notes the Dr Gendron, while specifying that around fifteen emergency doctors are particularly trained in this care: “The goal is that there is always at least one, whatever the time of day. We are trying to develop this in each department, but it takes time”. At the same time, a police officer present this Monday adds: “We come every time we are called. This is valuable, because beyond facilitating the filing of a complaint in a quieter setting than the police station, it contributes to the most efficient collection of evidence possible and helps the 'investigation”.
Support for perpetrators and serious telephone danger
In the department, 40 serious danger telephones are currently deployed: “In 10 years, we have multiplied their number by 10”notes a coordinator of the CIDFF (information center on the rights of women and families). The allocation of these telephones is decided by the public prosecutor's office, after the CIDFF submits a particular situation. The telephone is allocated for a renewable period of six months.
To address the problem at the root, the support center for perpetrators of domestic violence (CPCA) supports them: “This can be either at the end of police custody for these facts, with an injunction from the courts, or at the initiative of the author”explains Bénédicte Gilbert. Commissioned four years ago, the Aude CPCA supported around fifty people, including 15 this year, and two of them were volunteers. “This is therapeutic care, either individual or through discussion groups, to help people understand the mechanisms of violence, recognize responsibility, and develop new behaviors”she adds.
