A Facebook page of a Sciences-Po Bordeaux association has collected more than 150 testimonies of sexual violence in a few days.

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M.Bosredon / 20Minutes

  • The private Facebook page of a Sciences Po Bordeaux association has been stormed by victims of gender-based and sexual violence.

  • The management, in conjunction with the association Sexprimons nous, will be setting up preventive actions in the spring.

  • A working group has been launched and training courses to raise awareness among new students and those who go abroad, considered particularly fragile, will be organized.

"We felt people in great distress and for us it was not easy to manage," comments Marie, one of the representatives of the feminist association Sexprimons nous, carried by students from Sciences Po Bordeaux.

On January 23, a victim of sexual violence recounts what she suffered on a private Facebook page of the association and her testimony encourages other students to take the plunge.

In a few days, more than 150 stories of sexism, harassment, sexual violence and rape poured in, emanating from former or current students of the prestigious Bordeaux institution, which has around 3,000 students.

“Everyone was surprised, shocked and also empathized, reacts Caroline Dufy, in charge of gender equality at Sciences Po Bordeaux.

There is a will to put measures in place to prevent these things from happening again.

"" We were not at all surprised by the content of the testimonies, reacts Amélie, from the association Sexprimons nous.

What surprised us was the fact that many testified with their faces uncovered ”.

The association wants to work to "recreate a bond of trust between the students and the administration", adds Léa, noting in the light of certain testimonies that it had been damaged.

A monitoring and listening unit was created in 2018, bringing together professionals such as psychologists and lawyers, in order to deal with different types of violence (harassment, ill-being, gender-based and sexual violence, psychological difficulties, etc.) "It will have to be strengthened," said Caroline Dufy.

Working group and training

A working group has been set up and will meet this Thursday, bringing together teachers, representatives of management and students.

“They know better where the holes are in the device,” points out Caroline Dufy.

"We will try to materialize our ideas already formulated, well received by the management, and we made a call for proposals to the students", specifies Amélie from Sexprimons us.

On the occasion of internships or mobility in their courses, Sciences Po Bordeaux students are required to stay abroad.

“We need to train them better before they leave,” says Caroline Dufy.

The change of scenery is a considerable opportunity but prevention must be stepped up because they are far from their family, the institution, their friends, and they find themselves helpless in the face of attacks ”.

The association nevertheless points out that only 20 of the 150 people who testify are in a situation of mobility, even if the context is not always explained in the testimonies.

"But it is sure that this is a factor of vulnerability because we do not necessarily speak the language of the country and it is more difficult to find the appropriate support in the event of a problem," adds Amélie.

From spring, training will be offered to students going abroad and at the start of the next school year, another will be offered to all new students.

The fight against gender-based and sexual violence "must constitute a major focus of our school plan for the years to come", writes Bernard Cazeneuve, chairman of the board of directors of Sciences Po Bordeaux, to director Yves Deloye, in an open letter dated February 5.

Militant actions

On the militant side, the association has planned a campaign on social networks, notably evoking consent, sexual assault, the culture of rape, etc.

A directory of psychologists and therapists is also under development.

“The fact of testifying was able to awaken trauma in them, which is also why we set up support groups,” emphasizes Marie.

There is a request to be exchanged between victims ”.

"We cannot continue like that for sure, students have the right to study in an atmosphere of serenity and tranquility", concludes Caroline Dufy.

Lille

North: An itinerant van, meeting women victims of violence

Production

What kind of violence do students suffer?

  • Aquitaine

  • Society

  • Student

  • Rape

  • Sexual assault

  • Political science