In its first thematic report on France's implementation of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence ("Istanbul Convention"), the Council of Europe's Group of Experts (GREVIO) has welcomed the efforts made by the authorities and recommended measures for the continued improvement of police and judicial responses and for better victim protection and support, particularly for women victims of sexual violence.
The report highlights legislative developments to strengthen protection for women victims of intimate partner violence and their children and the introduction of new measures such as electronic tagging, immediate interim protection orders, dedicated healthcare facilities, emergency financial assistance for women who have left a violent partner and the New Start package. A femicide protocol has also been adopted to improve care for children who have witnessed a gender-based murder and funding for the 3919 helpline has been increased.
Praise for France's efforts
GREVIO has commended measures to prevent domestic violence, including the setting up of a national taskforce handling reports of violence in sport, the development of tools to promote awareness of sexual violence, measures taken to improve teaching about sexuality and making respectful choices regarding intimate and emotional relationships in schools, the training of professionals and the provision of teaching kits.
The report also welcomes the establishment of judicial units dealing with violence within the family, the creation of liaison judge posts and the increase in the number of social workers and psychologists in police and gendarmerie stations. It notes that there has been increased activity on the digital platform for reporting violence and that victims can now have forensic evidence collected and preserved without having to press charges beforehand.
More work to be done combatting sexual violence
Despite progress, the report highlights shortcomings in legislation and policies, particularly with regard to sexual violence, and calls for police and judicial responses to be enhanced through improved investigation and evidence-gathering and the adoption of a definition of sexual violence based on the absence of the victim's freely given consent.
GREVIO also calls on the authorities to strengthen the co-ordination, resources and evaluation of policies to combat violence against women, afford greater recognition to the multiple forms of discrimination to which some women victims of violence, including migrant and refugee women, may be exposed, and to ensure that specialist associations have sufficient resources. In addition, it is necessary to continue strengthening the initial and in-service training of all professionals dealing with victims and perpetrators of violence against women.
Moreover, GREVIO emphasises the importance of ensuring that all women victims of sexual violence have access to a forensic examination, as well as short- and long-term psychological support and counselling from qualified professionals. Further measures should also be taken to prevent and combat violence against women with disabilities, including those in institutions, and to ensure that specialist support is available for women victims of violence and their children in shelters.
Additional measures should be taken to secure the safety of victims and their children when decisions are made on custody and visiting rights and to guarantee the proper implementation of tighter legislation banning the use of mandatory mediation in cases of violence. Lastly, risk assessments should be conducted systematically and a proper safety plan for victims, including the use of protection orders, should be implemented rapidly thereafter.
GREVIO is the independent expert body responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (known as the "Istanbul Convention") by the Parties.
Open for signature to any country in the world in addition to the 46 Council of Europe member states, the treaty has been ratified so far by 38 states and the European Union, and signed by another six.
France at the Council of Europe
