France to step up protection laws for women

The senate on Tuesday evening started examining a law aimed at stepping up laws to protect women from violence. A protection scheme for victims and new regulation outlawing psychological violence were among the measures proposed, as well as an electronic bracelet to ensure the abusive party keeps their distance.

Ben Pollard

“These violences must be better known to be better tackled,” said Jean-Marie Bockel, secretary of state for justice.

A report on Tuesday said the number of deaths linked to domestic violence is underestimated in France. Official figures say 156 women were killed in 2008 by partners or ex-partners. But Psytel’s study says it was more like 460.

In 2008, French prosecutors brought 59,427 new cases of domestic violence. The number of convictions rose from 10,684 to 16,773 between 2005 and 2008.

“No one can claim to know the full extent of the problem,” said Bockel. “The law of silence still too often rules – from fear of reprisals, from shame or from ignorance of their rights.”

The centrist president of the Commission of Social Affairs in the senate, Muguette Dini, said her goddaughter was a victim of domestic violence and she described the numerous legal problems she helped her through.

She advocated a specific training for everyone involved and said something must be done to ensure that the law is respected by the police force.

"Aggression often springs from inequality between men and women,” said Socialist Party member Roland Courteau.

The bill will be adopted Wednesday night after the examination of some 20 amendments.