A woman who survived an attempted femicide has spoken out about possible avenues to try to put an end to these horrible crimes on this international day for the elimination of violence against women.
“It takes more empathy,” says Geneviève Rioux, who came close to death after being stabbed 18 times by a man who entered her home in Sherbrooke on the night of April 7 to 8, 2018.
“Violence is an act of aggression that does not take into account the other person, then empathy, I think that can slow down movements of aggression like that, extreme violence,” continues -she in an interview on the show The Balance SheetFriday evening.
Ms. Rioux is now a doctoral student in psychology and a writer. She also says that she used her art to successfully digest this trauma.
“First, I wrote poetry. I wrote a collection called Survivace. Then there was all my truth coming through,” she mentions.
Healing through fiction
It was because she felt a need to go further in her healing that she began writing fiction.
“I could step outside of myself, visit other characters and explore themes in even greater depth,” she confides.
In his new novel not even deadwhich was just published last week, Geneviève Rioux tells a very intense story linked to an investigation following a femicide. She attempts to show the “collateral victims” of such a crime.
“Every person can be impacted by an event like this. Both the victim and her loved ones, as well as doctors, caregivers, investigators, indicates the author. The investigation takes place, but from the point of view, the perspective, of the victim.”
“Restorative justice”
Ms. Rioux is also very involved in the fight against violence against women. She is spokesperson for the Center for Restorative Justice Services (CSJR).
“Restorative justice puts a person who has committed a crime in contact with a victim, and sometimes members of the community, to create a space for dialogue,” she explains. This violence is not ready to stop tomorrow, but what we hope is at least to be able to repair it. Then restorative justice allows this both for victims who have obtained justice and for victims who have not obtained it.”
“It is an approach which is not an approach of forgiveness, but of repair, of dialogue, to be able to break down the divisions of labels, then obtain answers which are more satisfactory,” she adds.
