Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, 25.11.24 – On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Communal Center for Social Action (CCAS) organized a march to raise awareness the population. The event mobilized participants and professionals, recalling the urgency of acting in the face of increasing violence.
More than 1,000 women victims of violence are welcomed each year by the CCAS structures, according to its vice-president Emilie Roussos. This figure illustrates the scale of the problem and motivated the organization of a symbolic march this Monday, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The route, crossing the main streets and emblematic places of the city, aimed to raise awareness among residents about a phenomenon that affects all levels of society.
Domestic violence is not limited to situations of precariousness, it concerns women from all backgrounds, whether they are doctors, traders or unemployed.
underlines Émilie Roussos.
In addition to day care, the CCAS also manages emergency accommodation, but this is largely insufficient.
We are faced with a glaring lack of places to shelter victims
deplores Emilie Vedder, specialist educator. According to her, calls to 115 often go unanswered due to a lack of available solutions.
The CCAS, supported by the prefecture and the town hall, fears that the subsidies necessary to maintain these systems will not be sustainable.
We must fight every year to guarantee funding
alert Emilie Roussos. The professionals present also insisted on the need to strengthen teams, in particular social workers and psychologists, to support victims and their children, often co-victims.
Among the participants, Candida Hernandez, a former victim, shared her experience.
It's very difficult, but it's important to show that we can get through it.
This march also served as a reminder that violence is not always recognized as abnormal by the victims themselves.
Many women think violence is normal in their marriage or culture
testifies Emilie Vedder. This lack of awareness complicates treatment and prevention.
Despite everything, the actions taken are bearing fruit. Several women manage to get out of their situation thanks to sustained support, even if the road remains long. “Every step forward is a victory”concludes Emilie Roussos.
By uniting this Monday, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni sent a strong message: the fight against violence against women is a collective and priority fight, which must not weaken.
