The international #MeToo movement has profoundly shaken our societies. In recent years, millions of women, but also girls, boys and LGBTI+ people, have spoken out to publicly denounce the extent of sexist and sexual violence (SGBV).
Even if people seem to be speaking out, the voices of victims are not necessarily heard and the political responses are not up to the challenge.
However, the figures from various surveys on VSS in France are appalling. This violence affects women, girls and gender minorities disproportionately. We then speak of gender-based violence.
9 out of 10 womendeclare having already experienced a sexist situation (Annual report 2024 of the High Council for Equality)
82%of people who died as a result of domestic violence are women (Ministry of the Interior, Victims’ Delegation, 2022)
99%of perpetrators convicted of sexual violence in 2022 are men (Letter from the National Observatory on Violence against Women, 2024)
Sexist and sexual violence: what are we talking about?
A gender-based violence is a harmful act committed against a person on the basis of their gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or other sex characteristics.
A sexual violence is a form of physical assault of a sexual nature or non-consensual intercourse such as rape.
While men and boys can be victims of GBV, it is women and girls who are most affected.
Domestic violence, rape, harassment and cyber-harassment of people because of their gender are sexist and sexual violence.
Violence everywhere
The observation is there: sexism and the violence that results from it are far from being ancient history. Sexism manifests itself every day in the streets, on transport, at work, at school, at home, on television, on social networks.
The High Council for Equality is concerned about this in its latest report: the growth of sexism in France is a regression.
Although the population claims to be increasingly aware of VSS and to tolerate it less and less, surveys prove that: Sexual violence is not decreasing.
Justice Nowhere
6%victims of rape, attempted rape and/or sexual assault filed complaints in 2021 (National Observatory on Violence against Women)
0.6%rapes or attempted rapes would have resulted in a conviction in 2020 (INSEE victimization survey)
86%complaints of sexual violence are closed without follow-up between 2012 and 2021 (Institute of Public Policy, 2024)
In France, a minority of women VSS victims file complaints. When they wish to do so, they often face guilt-inducing questions, a minimization of the facts, or a reversal of responsibility for the assault they suffered. They also encounter numerous obstacles in their path to justice, which once again undermines their rights.
Impunity for the aggressors reignsIn France, 86% of complaints are dismissed without further action, and only 6% of rapists are convicted by the courts according to the Ministry of Justice.
Today, rape victims who obtain justice only do so after a long and difficult battle.
New violence during complaint filing
In our report “Go home, it will pass. Filing a complaint for sexual violence: the ordeal of migrant, transgender and sex worker women in France”, we reported on the additional obstacles encountered by these women when filing a complaint.
In their journey towards justice, they may suffer a new violence such as racism, transphobia or denial of the violence suffered. This violence can even go as far as refusing to file a complaint, which is against the law.
Read also: Filing a complaint for sexual violence in France: the ordeal of migrant women, transgender women and sex workers
Protect women, protect their rights
If gender justice is at the heart of public debate today, it is urgent to put an end to the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of violence. Rape culture must give way to consent culture.
All over the world, and in France, States must enforce or implement laws to combat VSS. We have an ambitious international legal text on violence against women: the ConventionIstanbul Convention 2011The text, ratified by France and binding, obliges States to protect women victims of violence, and to support them. They are required to set up systems such as emergency numbers, reception centres, medical services and legal aid.
It is also essential to promote a culture of consent, notably through sexual and emotional education in schools, and by implementing crucial legislative reforms to change mentalities and behaviours.
Civil society has already forced many states to make the switch: the notion of consent is enshrined in the law of several European countries.
SOS VSS: are you a witness, relative or victim of sexist, sexual and/or domestic violence?
In case of emergency, contact the police:
By calling 17
By sending an SMS to 114 (if you have difficulty speaking or hearing)
By reporting on the online chat www.service-public.fr/cmi
If you need to talk: call the national information and guidance hotline (Violence Against Women Info) At 3919 (anonymous and free).
You can find help from other devices and associations:
The telephone hotline of the Feminist Collective Against Rape (0 800 05 95 95)
The green number for Family Planning (0 800 08 11 11) or one of its reception centers closest to you www.planning-familial.org/fr/pres-de-chez-vous
The free and anonymous chat of the association En avant toute(s) www.commentonsaime.fr/
The App-Elles mobile application www.app-elles.fr
Telephone reception of the European Association against violence against women at work (01 45 84 24 24)
SOS homophobia chat www.sos-homophobie.org/chat
The discussion groups of the En Parler association www.associationenparler.com
The France Victimes network which brings together several associations and reception centers www.france-victimes.fr
If someone shares their story with you:
Listen to her
Believe her
Understand it
Guide her (if that’s what she wants)
Respect his choices
Don’t judge her
