Chemical submission? This is a new reality that the historic trial of Mazan and its main accused Dominique Pélicot have brought to light in recent weeks. This modus operandi for rape took on a whole new dimension in this case. National Councilor Jessica Jaccoud (PS/VD) thus tabled a postulate in Berne, during the winter session, which asks the Federal Council to establish an overview of the problem in Switzerland.
The Vaud lawyer notes: “This sexual violence perpetrated with complete impunity for many years has highlighted several dysfunctions, in particular the absence of reactions from the pharmaco-medical body, and also the fact that violence against women are carried out, contrary to the cliché of the unknown rapist, very largely within the framework and intimacy of the private sphere.
She sees it as a convincing example of “systemic violence against women”. But for the moment, in the absence of figures, it is impossible to quantify the reality of these crimes in Switzerland. She believes that it would first be necessary to define the notion of “chemical submission” in all national languages, because for the moment, the term is specifically French-speaking with the Mazan affair.
In its postulate, the Federal Council is therefore requested to clarify the notion of chemical submission, to make, as far as possible, an inventory of the cases identified in Switzerland and, finally, to specify the legal instruments which will make it possible to pursue the perpetrators of violence who use this type of procedure.
