In France, every three days, a woman dies under the blows of her companion. This terrible record, recalled on the occasion of the International Day against violence against women this November 25, underlines the need for more support for these victims. This is why the Minister of Health Marisol Touraine announced the implementation of concrete measures to improve the care of women victims of violence, in particular through the training of health professionals.
Referents in each emergency department
Better training doctors to recognize, help and supervise women victims of violence is a priority because they are often their first contacts: 25% of women victims of rape or attempted rape and 23% of those who underwent domestic violence physical and / or sexual turn to a doctor following these acts, according to the Ministry of Health. Marisol Touraine therefore asked establishments with an emergency service to appoint a referent “violence against women“among the doctors of the emergency service, SAMU or SMUR. This referent”will be responsible for raising the awareness of the staff of these services and identifying the partners useful in dealing with this violence“and will receive specific training during the first semester of 2016.”With the designation of emergency advisers, we are changing scale: we tell women victims of violence that they can go to their doctor or to the hospital: they will find a trained professional there who will support them and help them find solutions“said the Minister of Health.
Kits to train professionals
At the same time, several training kits are provided to health professionals to help them support and reassure women victims of violence. The “Anna” kit encourages doctors to question and dialogue with women and the “Elisa” kit, intended for midwives, looks at sexual violence during pregnancy, a critical period for the establishment of violence in women. the couple. These tools have already made it possible to raise awareness among more than 200,000 professionals. The new “Guidance for women victims of violence” kit, developed by the Hubertine Auclert Center, a resource center for gender equality, will also be distributed to 10,000 healthcare professionals in Île-de-France.
Online help and at 3919
For women who would not or could not turn to a doctor, online mapping, carried out by the Center Hubertine Auclert, the Ministry of Health and the regional delegation for women’s rights and equality of Île-de-France, makes it possible to locate more than 400 structures in the Ile-de-France region specializing in supporting women victims of violence.
And throughout France, if you are a victim or witness of violence, dial 3919. This number, managed by the Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes, is anonymous and free.
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