Law, employment, fight against violence… in Île-de-France, this traveling van comes into contact with women

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In front of a high school or college, on the square in front of a station or on a market, the Van Info Women of Information Center on the Rights of Women and Families (CIDFF) a completedon Friday November 15, 2024, in Étréchy, two weeks of roaming in Essonne during which he fulfilled his mission: raise awareness and inform on gender equality, access to rights and professional integration.

Free, anonymous and without appointment

Created a little over a year ago by the CIDFF of Île-de-France, the Van Info Femmes travels the roads of the region meeting women (and also men) offering them anonymous and free exchanges with professionals, without an appointment.

A sofa-style bench has been fitted inside the van to guarantee the confidentiality of exchanges and facilitate this proximity listening.

“These informal conversations allow us to present our services and guide to one of our offices near the person's home,” explains Mélodie (she wishes to remain anonymous), in charge of the Van Info Femmes project for the regional federation of CIDFF of Île-de-France.

Information brochures and games

At the back of the van, a upheaval game gender-based and sexual violence allows women or young girls to question or find out about the different forms of violence they may have suffered or witnessed.

“This system works quite well with middle and high school students. That helps start the conversation »specifies Mélodie, indicating that the Van Info Femmes has carried out more than a hundred interventions in the Ile-de-France departments.

Sometimes, associations are added to the Van Info Femmes tour, like the Movement of the nest, present during these two weeks of roaming in the department.

A “gain in visibility”

“In this case, we wanted a specific action to combat prostitutionpromoting equality and combating gender-based and sexual violence. But for the next few times, it could be about supporting women towards employment or access to health,” explains Sabine Vadez, director of the CIDFF in the south-east of the Ile-de-France region (91 and 77).

A place of awareness, information and relay, the Van Info Femmes, allows the CIDFF to reach new audiences.

“On Wednesday, the van was in front of the prefecture in Évry-Courcouronnes and a woman in prostitution who did not know our associations left with information brochures as well as condoms,” relates the director who is satisfied with the “gain in visibility” that the deployment of the van allows.

Twelve municipalities visited

“Proof of the need to move towards the territories”, underlines Hello HourSecretary of State for Equality between Women and Men, following her visit to Van Info Femmes, during her stop in Fleury-Mérogis, Wednesday.

After this fortnight in Essonne, the Van Info Femmes will take the direction of the Seine-Saint-Denis and Paris to continue its mission of awareness and information.

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