Barely mentioned and already criticized. Marlène Schiappa announced Thursday, August 29, the launch of a Grenelle to act against the scourge of violence against women. But the measure is already challenged within feminists themselves.
Anxious to end the scary count of feminicides in France, the Secretary of State for Equality between women and men will indeed kick off a "Grenelle domestic violence" Tuesday, to Matignon. On paper, the operation must lead to immediate measures and increased resources.
More broadly, the government wants to reduce the physical or sexual violence against some 220,000 women each year in a marital setting, according to official data. The Ministry of the Interior has identified 121 feminicides in 2018, a murder every three days, according to the association "Femicide by companions or ex".
The government team in reinforcement
To ensure communication, the entire government team or almost mobilized. Starting with Prime Minister Philippe Philippe, Nicole Belloubet at Justice, Christophe Castaner at the Interior, Jean-Michel Blanquer at Education, Julien Denormandie at Logement, and Adrien Taquet at the Protection of Childhood. The Ministry of Gender Equality promises even "strong announcements" from the first day of the Grenelle. This consultation will also be declined in 91 Grenelle "local" according to Marlène Schiappa.
But this big event, to which many associations are invited, is not everyone's taste. Or all. Many feminist activists denounce a crying lack of means. The collective #NousToutes estimates that it would take a billion euros to better prevent violence against women. Far from the "special fund" of a million euros already announced Thursday by Marlène Schiappa for "field associations". "It does not make much sense to have a big three-month meeting to talk about solutions we've had for ten years," tapped Caroline De Haas, a member of the collective #NousToutes, which, unincorporated, will not participate. not at the event.
"We make Grenelles for everything, but empty Grenelle"
"One has the impression that there is an inflation of communication, an inflation of words to mask the reality which is a total lack of means to face these challenges" of the fight against violence against women, criticized Clémentine Autain, guest of the "8h30 franceinfo", Thursday, August 29th. "Now we make Grenelle for everything, but empty Grenelle," said the insubordinate La France de Seine-Saint-Denis.
And to continue, "the budget devoted today to violence is completely ridiculous: 0.01% devoted to women's rights in France.We can do nothing with that, criticized Clémentine Autain.And this government, particularly Marlène Schiappa, is specialized in making big announcements, to tell us that she understands the situation, but as long as we are in the nails of budget austerity, there is no priority worthy of the name that emerges.
"The Grenelle is a way like any other do nothing," concluded, the actress Eva Darlan, at a rally held Wednesday, on the forecourt of the City Hall of Paris.
"A lot of hope in this Grenelle"
Fortunately for Marlène Schiappa, some associations see the initiative with a good eye. "Any consultation is useful and necessary," said Françoise Brié, executive director of the National Federation of Women's Solidarity (FNSF), which points out that additional funding was provided in early July list 3919 number operated by his organization.
Marie Cervetti, of the association "FIT, a woman, a roof", also places "a lot of hope in this Grenelle", and calls for a "strategic base to fight the sexual and sexual violence".
Whether defending the initiative or condoning it, feminist activists plan to take advantage of this initiative to get things done. The group "Feminicides by journeyman or ex" called Tuesday for a "march towards the Grenelle" to make known their claims. Other activists more hostile to the project have also already planned to go down the street on Saturday, November 23, two days before the closing of the Grenelle, to denounce the shortcomings of public action.
One thing is certain, the "Grenelle of domestic violence" by Marlène Schiappa has been heard.