While the number of women killed by their spouse or ex-partner in 2019 is up sharply compared to 2018, the Grenelle against domestic violence celebrates its first anniversary with a "mixed record", regretted several associations during a videoconference, Thursday, September 3, with Minister Élisabeth Moreno.

The latter then undertook to pursue the efforts and objectives announced a year ago.

"This Grenelle made it possible to give an extraordinary visibility to domestic violence, underlined Anne-Cécile Mailfert, president of the Foundation of the women, but it should not be that it is only of communication, it is not what the we expect the state ".

If the ministry responsible for equality between women and men and associations recognize that a third of the 46 measures announced have been applied this year, the activists regret that another third have "not been initiated at all ", such as the creation of women's centers in the area.

"It was very difficult to know what had happened over the past year, because there is a lack of political and institutional steering of these measures", regrets Anne-Cécile Mailfert, who hopes for a "renewal" with the arrival of Elisabeth Moreno.

The minister, who brought together the 11 Grenelle working groups for a progress report on the occasion of this first anniversary, estimated for her part that 23 measures were today "in an advanced state, and six under construction" .

"The associative activists are asking us for more results today, and that is their role", she admitted at the end of this meeting. 

146 women killed by their partner or ex-spouse in 2019

In 2019, 146 women were killed by their spouse or ex-spouse, 25 more than in 2018, according to the latest official figures.

These murders are the final stage of domestic violence, of which more than 210,000 adult women are victims each year in France.

The associations however welcomed recent legislative advances, which notably provide for exceptions to medical confidentiality in the event of "immediate danger".

But they pointed to "gaps" concerning the most costly measures, in particular on the side of specialized housing for victims.

"I can understand that this is never enough: as long as we have women who will die of feminicides, no one will be able to be satisfied with the situation", assured the minister, confirming moreover that the budget allocated to her ministry would increase from 30 to 41 million euros in 2021. 

"Lack of transparency"

During a visit to the Maison des Femmes in Saint-Denis, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Wednesday September 2 the creation of 1,000 additional accommodation places.

These are in addition to the 1,000 planned for the Grenelle.

The Federation of Solidarity Actors, however, regrets a "lack of budgetary transparency" on the creation of these places, which are currently at a rate of "60% openness" according to the ministry.

Élisabeth Moreno also promised the implementation of anti-reconciliation bracelets for violent spouses or ex-spouses "by the end of September", and the will to create 15 centers for the care of perpetrators before the end of the 'year. 

With AFP

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