MEPs approve the creation of an authority to combat sexual and domestic violence

MPs approved on Friday the creation of an “authority to combat sexual and domestic violence”, an independent body responsible for evaluating public policies, reporting on feminicides in France, but also conducting research. Seized at first reading of the “comprehensive” bill against sexist and sexual violence, parliamentarians approved one of its first articles, which establishes this authority, independent of the government.

It would be made up of parliamentarians, magistrates, “medical-psychological experts”, researchers, representatives of associations and communities. Its task would be to report each year on the processing times for cases of gender-based and sexual violence (SGBV) and intra-family violence, but also other indicators such as the conviction rate, recidivism rates, or even the time taken to inform victims when a convicted attacker is released.

Aurore Bergé warned of side effects in case processing times

Another mission that would be entrusted to it: to conduct research and formulate recommendations on the “mechanisms” at work among “perpetrators of sexist and sexual violence”, their prevention, and the fight against recidivism. It will also have to publish annually the number of feminicides in France, and that of infanticides, but also of deaths of minors “following violence”, MP Ayda Hadizadeh (PS) thus hoping to bring into the scope cases of suicide of minors after having suffered harassment or violence.

Earlier on Friday, MPs adopted a key article defining domestic violence. While expanding the offenses that would fall within this field. With in particular amendments providing for the integration of “economic violence” (non-payment of alimony, cases of theft or extortion) but also, for example, conversion therapy, when it was committed against a minor or in the family or marital context.