National frameworks in France - Online training materials on violence

1. Public policies
2. Legislation
3. Law enforcement and protective measures
4. Support for victims
5. Prevention
6. Statistics and research
7. Sources

1. Public policies

Since the mid-2000s, France has experienced significant national mobilisation against domestic violence. The legislative framework has seen major developments, and five three-year interministerial plans were implemented from 2005 to 2019.

The fight against violence against women, declared a national priority for the five-year term by the President of the Republic on 25 November 2017, gained momentum with the organisation of a Grenelle on domestic violence in November 2019. This Grenelle brought together key public and associative stakeholders. The decisions taken following the Grenelle now constitute the current national plan to combat domestic violence.

Policy coordination

Policy coordination is overseen by a national coordinating body: the Service for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (SDFE), within the Directorate General for Social Cohesion (DGCS) of the Ministry of Labour, Health, and Solidarity. The SDFE operates under the authority of the State Secretariat for Gender Equality and the Fight Against Discrimination. It convenes an interministerial monitoring committee several times a year, bringing together ministries and institutional partners involved in the fight against domestic, intra-family, and gender-based violence.

The MIPROF (Interministerial Mission for the Protection of Women against Violence and the Fight Against Human Trafficking) is responsible for developing a national training plan for all professionals likely to come into contact with victims.

Local management is carried out through departmental plans (the department is the main local authority and administrative area, France is composed of 101 departments), local committees, and the establishment of protocols between different local actors.

Judicial court chiefs, supported by the heads of the Court of Appeal, are tasked with overseeing victim support in their jurisdiction. In collaboration with funded victim support associations, they organise a departmental victim support plan. They also implement targeted actions based on partnership protocols to improve the care and protection of particularly vulnerable or traumatised victims.

Local Victim Support Committees (CLAV), created in 2017 and co-chaired by prefects (the prefect is the representative of the national government in the department) and public prosecutors, provide a local overview of the actions taken by various stakeholders.

As violence against women is recognised as a public health priority, regional health agencies (ARS) are responsible for organising policies in the health domain.

Interagency collaboration

In France, numerous initiatives of interagency cooperation have been established to support victims in their journey to escape violence.

Some collaborations rely on police and gendarmerie services, which have set up specialised personnel to maintain a network with partner stakeholders. Among these specialists are departmental and local victim support correspondents (police officers or gendarmes), social workers in police stations and gendarmerie (embedded social workers), and psychologists in police stations. Their mission is to improve the support and care of victims, working in partnership with support services such as departmental social services, associations, shelters, and medical services.

Internal security forces engage in a partnership approach by signing agreements at the national level, which are then applied at the departmental level, with major associative networks such as France Victimes, the National Federation for Women’s Solidarity (FNSF), and the National Federation of Women’s Rights and Family Information Centres (FN-CIDFF).

Judicial services, particularly the public prosecutors, may also initiate a partnership policy, in line with the recommendations of the criminal policy guidelines circular of 24 November 2014. Certain victim protection measures, such as the Emergency Phone Device (Téléphone Grave Danger – TGD), involve a coordinated partnership and networking.

Other partnerships revolve around associative actors such as the Women’s Rights and Family Information Centres (CIDFF), or around local authorities (municipalities, associations of municipalities, departmental councils, etc.).

These various forms of interagency cooperation benefit from the support of the decentralised network of the Service for Women’s Rights and Equality (SDFE).

Non-governmental organisations and civil society

In France, non-governmental organisations, particularly associations specialised in defending women’s rights, play a central role in the practical implementation of measures to prevent and combat violence against women.

Many of these associations are grouped within national federations. For example, the FNSF (Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes) brings together 67 associations; the Fédération Nationale des Centres d’Information des Droits des Femmes et de la Famille (FNCIDFF) includes 105 CIDFF centres, the Femmes Solidaires federation is composed of a network of 109 associations, and France Victimes federates 130 victim support associations.

Thanks to their on-the-ground knowledge and expertise in specific categories of victims, these associations offer a wide range of services, such as helplines, listening services, support, shelter, and assistance for victims of violence. They also carry out awareness-raising campaigns for the general public and provide training for professionals.

The Ministry of Justice funds, through Programme 101 on access to law and justice, associations that support the implementation of the Téléphone Grave Danger (TGD) and the Anti-Approach Bracelet (Bracelet Anti-Rapprochement – BAR), conduct in-depth evaluations of victims’ needs, develop emergency support services that are available 24/7, and contribute to the handling of offenders.

Policy funding

The budget for victim support increased from €28.3 million in 2019 to €43 million in 2023. The share allocated to victims of intra-family violence is estimated at €16.1 million in 2023, compared to €6.7 million in 2019.

Evaluation of public policies

The evaluation of policies related to violence against women is entrusted to an independent body recognised for its expertise and authority in this field, the Haut Conseil à l’Égalité (High Council for Equality, HCE). As a body bringing together public administrations and the non-governmental sector, the HCE is positioned to ensure a comprehensive and independent evaluation, covering both the legal framework and the actions outlined in the inter-ministerial plans.

In June 2019, the Ministry of Justice launched an inspection mission to examine all cases of domestic homicides committed in 2015 and 2016 and that had been definitively judged. This initiative established a feedback method (retex) for all domestic homicide cases, including those still ongoing.

2. Legislation

The legal framework for preventing and punishing domestic violence has been significantly strengthened and has gradually incorporated various forms of violence.

Key legal developments

France signed the Istanbul Convention on 11 May 2011 and ratified it on 4 July 2014.

The law of 22 July 1992 recognises the status of spouse or cohabitant of the victim as an aggravating circumstance in cases of violence within a couple.

Law No. 2006-399 of 4 April 2006 extended the scope of this aggravating circumstance to include former intimate partners, regardless of the legal status of the union. It also extended it to new offences such as murder, rape, and sexual assault. This law also recognised marital rape, which had previously been established only by the case law of the Court of Cassation, as well as theft between spouses.

The law of 9 July 2010 introduced the protection order and the offence of psychological harassment within a couple (or by an ex-partner). This law also facilitated the issuance or renewal of residence permits for foreign victims of domestic violence.

The law of 4 August 2014 improved the protection order system by extending its maximum duration to six months (instead of four months) and provided that, in the event of a conviction, the criminal court may rule on the removal of parental authority from the perpetrator of violence.

The law of 14 March 2016 introduced the possibility of total removal of parental authority by the family court judge, without a criminal conviction, when the child is a witness to physical or psychological domestic violence.

The law of 3 August 2018 further broadened the definition of domestic violence to include couples whose intimate partners live separately. It added the presence of a minor during incidents of domestic violence as an aggravating circumstance.

The law of 30 July 2020 made forced suicide an aggravating circumstance of psychological harassment, punishable by up to ten years’ imprisonment. It expanded the scope of offences to include domestic cyber violence.

Decree 2021-1516 of 23 November 2021 allows minors who witness violence to become civil parties. Procedurally, they are legally considered victims rather than witnesses (Article D 1.11.1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure).

Compensation for victims

In France, victims may obtain compensation from the perpetrator of violence within the framework of criminal proceedings. Victims may also file a compensation claim with the State through the Commission for the Compensation of Victims of Crime (CIVI). The conditions for submitting a request to this commission depend on the status of the victim and the nature and consequences of the crime, in accordance with Articles 706-3 to 706-15 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Revocation or limitation of parental authority

Legal provisions allow for the complete or partial removal of parental authority as part of child protection measures. This removal may be ordered by a criminal judge in cases of conviction for violence committed by one parent against the other (Articles 221-5-5 and 222-48-2 of the Penal Code), or, without the need for a criminal conviction, by a civil judge: “when the child is a witness to physical or psychological violence or coercion exercised by one parent against the other, [placing] the child’s safety, health, or morals at obvious risk” (Article 378-1 of the Civil Code).

In the event of a disagreement concerning the exercise of parental authority, the law allows for the exclusive exercise of authority to be granted to the victim parent, due to the “physical or psychological pressure or violence exercised by one parent against the other” (Article 373-2-11 of the Civil Code).

In the context of a protection order, the civil judge may rule on the terms of exercising parental authority and may temporarily grant exclusive parental authority to the victim (Article 515-11 of the Civil Code).

To promote coordination between civil and criminal proceedings, the judge, when issuing a protection order due to violence that may endanger one or more children, must promptly inform the public prosecutor.

Following the Grenelle on Domestic Violence, modifications were introduced in French law to allow civil or criminal judges to suspend or modify the exercise of parental authority in cases of domestic violence. For example, these modifications may include the removal of visitation and accommodation rights, as well as authorising the mother to make unilateral decisions, particularly regarding medical and educational matters, while continuing to receive child support.

In cases where a crime has been committed by one parent against the other, the perpetrator’s exercise of parental authority and visitation rights are automatically suspended for six months (Article 378-2 of the Civil Code) from the start of the investigation. The public prosecutor is then required to refer the matter to the family court judge (JAF) within eight days to obtain a longer-term decision.

Exercise of visitation rights by the perpetrator of violence

The family court judge (JAF) may decide that visitation rights be exercised within a supervised visitation centre, a mechanism introduced by the law of 5 March 2007 relating to child protection. The Grenelle recommended expanding these visitation centres, which are neutral spaces that protect victims and their children during visitation by the other parent.

In 2021, 188 associations managing visitation centres were funded by the Ministry of Justice.

In 2021, a reference guide for the operation of visitation centres was distributed to associations. This guide emphasises the ability of these centres to ensure the protection of victims and highlights the obligation for professionals to be trained in dealing with these situations, particularly in caring for child victims and witnesses of domestic violence.

The judge is now required to specifically justify a decision not to establish supervised or third-party-monitored visitation rights for minor children.

Criminal law

Psychological violence and harassment

In the French Penal Code, psychological violence is covered by a general provision (Article 222-14-3) and by two specific provisions related to domestic violence. The latter concern psychological harassment in private life between spouses, civil partners (PACS), cohabitants, or ex-partners (Article 222-33-2-1), as well as harassment outside a conjugal relationship (Article 222-33-2-2).

Sexual violence, including rape

Sexual violence offences are covered by the provisions of the French Penal Code regarding rape and sexual assault (Articles 222-22 and following, as well as Article 227-25). French case law consistently affirms that everyone has the right to refuse sexual relations. Consequently, judges place the lack of consent of the victim at the heart of the legal interpretation of sexual assault and rape offences. They assess the absence of consent based on the perpetrator’s behaviour, characterised by acts of violence, coercion, threat, or surprise.

Cyber violence

To combat cyber harassment, the law of 30 July 2020, aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence, prohibits the geolocation of a person without their consent (Article 17) and strengthens penalties for offences such as violation of the secrecy of correspondence (Article 18), identity theft (Article 19), and sending malicious messages (Article 20) when committed within a couple.

Prohibition of alternative dispute resolution methods

In French law, criminal mediation always requires an agreement between the victim and the perpetrator. However, it is excluded in cases of domestic violence, unless the victim expressly requests it, and it cannot take place if new acts of violence are committed. Additionally, a circular dated 4 October 2010 establishes a presumption of non-consent to criminal mediation when the family court judge is seized for the issuance of a protection order. The law of 28 December 2019 amended Article 373-2-10 of the Civil Code, stating that family mediation is not permitted “if violence is alleged by one parent against the other parent or the child.” This modification is an advance, as it excludes mediation in cases where violence is simply alleged, without the need for it to have been proven in court.

3. Law enforcement and protective measures

Measures to facilitate complaints

In 2013, a “complaint” protocol was signed between the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Families, Children, and Women’s Rights. This protocol aims to systematise the information provided to victims and hold the services responsible for receiving complaints accountable by allowing alternatives to filing a formal complaint only if the victim opposes it, provided there is no serious offence. The protocol stipulates that filing a formal complaint should be the norm, while lodging a simple report (main courante) should only be an exception, reserved for situations where the victim explicitly refuses to file a complaint. The framework protocol also proposes defining the conditions for transmitting reports (mains courantes) to the public prosecutor.

There is now a standardisation of agreements between internal security forces and hospitals to allow complaints and testimonies to be filed in hospitals for victims of domestic violence when their health condition prevents them from going to a police station or gendarmerie.

An online reporting platform was launched in November 2018 by the Ministry of the Interior to help victims of sexual and gender-based violence take the step of filing a complaint.

Law enforcement

Risk assessment and management

In 2022, a new danger assessment questionnaire was distributed to all police and gendarmerie services and integrated into their procedural writing software, in accordance with Article 10-5 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure (CPP). This questionnaire helps assess, from the moment the complaint is filed, the need for specific protective measures for the victim, taking into account their vulnerability factors. It must be systematically completed by the investigator based on the information provided by the victim. Social workers and psychologists from the police or gendarmerie may also participate in this assessment.

The results of this personalised assessment must be communicated to the judicial authority, which can then decide to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the victim’s protection needs. This detailed evaluation will be carried out by a victim support association, appointed by the magistrate.

In 2021, 123 associations conducted 23,431 interviews as part of this process, a 43% increase compared to 2020. A total of €1.7 million was allocated to local victim support associations for assisting beneficiaries of the Initial Vulnerability Assessment and Verification (EVVI) system.

Victim support by police and gendarmerie services

In 2021, French law enforcement agencies (LEA) recorded nearly 208,000 victims of violence committed by their partner or ex-partner, a 21% increase compared to 2020. The number of reports has almost doubled since 2016, in a context of increased public awareness and improvements in how police and gendarmerie services receive victims.

LEAs are required to provide victims with an information leaflet on domestic violence, including the names and contact details of local victim support associations. They must also provide a copy of the complaint, unless the victim objects, and follow up with the victim within 48 to 72 hours, particularly when the police has intervened at the victim’s home.

Several measures have been implemented within law enforcement services to improve the reception of victims and encourage them to come forward. These include the appointment of specially trained domestic violence officers in police stations and gendarmerie units, an increase in the number of social workers in police stations and gendarmerie (ISCG), and the creation in 2009 of specialised units, the Family Protection Brigades, dedicated exclusively to handling victims of intra-family violence. Psychosocial units have been established in some police stations to provide comprehensive victim support. These units consist of police officers, ISCG social workers, and psychologists.

Domestic Violence Officers are responsible for ensuring the proper implementation of directives related to combating domestic and intra-family violence. They are also tasked with coordinating relationships between their service and external partners, as well as ensuring the effective handling of procedures.

Following the Grenelle national conference, audits on the quality of services provided to domestic violence victims, conducted by the Inspectorates General of the National Police (IGPN) and the National Gendarmerie (IGGN), have been systematised since 2021.

A geolocation platform for emergency shelter placements has been established. This digital tool assists police and gendarmerie services in locating shelters for victims.

New specialised units: Family Protection Groups

Currently, 146 Family Protection Groups (GPF) and 99 Family Protection Houses (MPF) have been deployed across the country.

The MPF, created by the National Gendarmerie following the Grenelle, focus on prevention initiatives. They support victims throughout the legal process, assist investigations, prevent recidivism, and provide long-term victim follow-up. These units are typically composed of 3 to 6 specially trained gendarmes, supported by social workers (ISCG). They work closely with territorial units that conduct interventions and investigations.

The GPF of the National Police are specialised investigative units handling domestic violence cases. Established in 2020 to replace the former Family Protection Brigades, they consist of 1,229 specialised investigators as of 2023. They perform similar functions to the MPF. Additionally, 397 local “family protection” representatives are present in police districts without GPF units.

ISCG and psychologists in police stations

Social workers, known as Intervenants Sociaux en Commissariat et Gendarmerie (ISCG), are assigned to local police and gendarmerie districts. As of 1 December 2022, there were 451 ISCG across the country: 191 in police stations, 181 in gendarmerie units, and 79 shared between the two forces. Only two departments were still without ISCG.

The ISCG’s mission is to guide victims and establish their social diagnosis, thereby improving the quality of their reception.

In addition to ISCG, the National Police have deployed psychologists in police stations. In 2019, there were 735 psychologists, averaging one per eight police stations.

Judicial system

The Grenelle of 2019 led to a series of measures concerning the judiciary, including:

Implementing an emergency channel in courts to handle domestic violence cases.
Developing and strengthening victim protection measures such as protection orders, Emergency Danger Phones (TGD), and restraining bracelets (BAR).
Expanding local multidisciplinary training.
Introducing a section on combatting domestic violence in mandatory training during role transitions.
Improving child protection by allowing a review of the violent partner’s parental authority.
Promoting the use of supervised visitation centres.
Conducting reviews of domestic homicides.
Enhancing the monitoring of domestic violence perpetrators and developing housing solutions.
Regularly organising meetings dedicated to fighting domestic violence within Local Victim Support Committees (CLAV).

Evolution of the judicial organisation

Policies to combat domestic violence have led to organisational reforms within the judicial system. These reforms aim to provide an emergency response to domestic violence situations and improve coordination among the judicial actors involved. The objective is to protect victims throughout their judicial journey and during the enforcement of the offender’s sentence.

Creation of an emergency channel in the courts

All courts, to varying degrees, have implemented measures to urgently address protection orders. This development was accelerated by the law of 28 December 2019, which imposes a six-day deadline between setting the hearing date and issuing the protection order (OP). Family court services (JAF) have been required to adapt their organisation to meet this procedural deadline.

An emergency channel involves victim support through victim assistance offices, close collaboration between victim protection associations and the public prosecutor’s office, especially for the issuance of Emergency Phone Devices (TGD), responsiveness of court services and lawyers, and effective communication between family court services and the public prosecutor’s office.

Some courts have specialised criminal hearings to ensure that domestic violence cases are handled separately and more quickly than other criminal matters. Increasingly, courts are favouring the immediate appearance procedure for such cases.

Holistic approach to litigation

With the handling of domestic violence cases, courts have adopted a more comprehensive and cross-disciplinary approach. This approach recognises that situations of violence evolve over time and considers the complexity of the issues involved, including the protection of victims and their children. The judicial system is moving away from a case-by-case approach towards a global risk-reduction strategy.

The public prosecutor’s office is central to interactions within the court. In addition to its power to prosecute offenders in criminal courts and enforce judicial decisions, it can also refer cases to the family court (JAF) to rule on parental authority matters (Article 372-2-8 of the Civil Code). The public prosecutor may also request a protection order (OP) from the JAF with the victim’s consent and refer cases to the children’s judge for educational assistance. It also plays a role in matters of personal status, including parentage and the removal of parental authority.

Cross-disciplinary coordination

This holistic approach requires magistrates to move beyond silo thinking. As a result, most court leaders have appointed domestic violence or intra-family violence coordinators within their services. These coordinators work to improve coordination and information-sharing between services and provide external partners with a point of contact within the court.

Furthermore, courts have received additional human resources as part of the proximity justice initiative, including legal assistants and project managers, often dedicated to fighting intra-family violence. These project managers and legal assistants play an active role that magistrates may not have time to fulfil. They can ensure comprehensive monitoring of domestic violence activities, create links between court services and external associations and partners, produce monitoring reports on domestic violence situations, and provide magistrates with enhanced case files for hearings. This facilitates continuity in monitoring cases and interaction between different actors.

Court projects on domestic violence

Combatting intra-family violence can be a specific court project or strategy. Such a project allows the two heads of the court to clearly articulate their chosen policy, give it external visibility, and ensure ongoing monitoring.

Partnership approach

Before the Grenelle, some courts had already established a steering committee for combatting domestic violence, bringing together stakeholders involved in this public policy.

The circular from the Minister of Justice dated 7 September 2021 aims to standardise this practice. It instructs courts to designate a single steering body from among existing bodies. This body can either be the Local Victim Support Committee (CLAV), co-chaired by the prefect and the public prosecutor, or, depending on local circumstances, the Departmental Crime Prevention Committee (CDPD). Such a steering committee now exists in nearly all judicial districts.

Many courts—one-third as of 2022—have also established a unit to handle individual cases of victims. This unit includes the public prosecutor, court officials, victim support associations, internal security forces, the Penitentiary Integration and Probation Service (SPIP), and sometimes the prefecture, hospital services, or the Family Allowance Fund (CAF).

Criminal response

The number of people involved in domestic violence cases increased from 82,134 in 2017 to 141,695 in 2021, a rise of 73%.

Dismissal of cases

A case may be dismissed by the public prosecutor if there is insufficient evidence to prove the facts. Since a conviction cannot be based solely on the plaintiff’s statements, the outcome of the proceedings depends on all the elements in the case file. Dismissals may also occur as part of an alternative to prosecution. In such cases, an association from the Fédération France Victimes (FFV) may be called upon by the prosecutor’s office to explain the situation to the victim.

The proportion of individuals whose cases are not prosecuted remains stable, at about one-third of cases. In 90% of these dismissals, the absence of an offence or poor characterisation of the offence is cited as the reason for the decision.

Dismissals also concern some prosecutable cases. In 2021, 6% of these cases were dismissed for lack of prosecutorial opportunity, compared to 8% in 2017. These dismissals are mainly due to the victim’s withdrawal, lack of cooperation, or the victim’s behaviour.

The criminal response rate, which measures the proportion of prosecutable cases that result in either prosecution or alternative measures, including penal composition, remains stable at around 90%.

Alternatives to prosecution and penal composition

An increasing proportion of complaints result in prosecution before the courts. As a result, the share of alternatives to prosecution and penal composition has tended to decrease, dropping from 27% in 2017 to 21% in 2021. Conversely, the share of prosecutions has increased, rising from 31% in 2017 to 36% in 2021.

Reminders of the law represent about two-thirds of alternatives to prosecution.

Mediation, in 2021, accounted for only 2% of alternatives to prosecution, down from 13% in 2017. The share of penal composition has increased, reaching 23% in 2021. It increasingly involves asking the accused to attend a domestic or gender-based violence prevention programme (this programme is considered a pre-sentencing measure). The number of these prevention programmes reached 2,153 in 2021 (7% of alternatives to prosecution), up from 399 in 2017 (2%).

Convictions

The number of convictions in correctional courts for domestic violence cases doubled between 2017 (22,210) and 2021 (43,725). The proportion of convictions pronounced in immediate appearance (CI) or deferred appearance (CDD) procedures increased from 17% in 2017 to 22% in 2021. This change reflects the desire for a quicker handling of domestic violence cases.

The rate of imprisonment sentences in domestic violence cases was 33% in 2021. The average sentence length increased from 8.2 months in 2017 to 9.3 months in 2021. The total number of years of imprisonment pronounced more than doubled, from 5,228 years in 2017 to 11,100 years in 2021. In 2021, 19,580 people convicted of domestic violence began being supervised by the Probation and Integration Services (SPIP), up from 6,890 in 2015, a 184% increase.

The number of post-sentencing prevention courses ordered increased 1.7 times each year between 2017 and 2021, reaching 9,206 in 2021 compared to 1,040 five years earlier, representing a 785% increase. In 2021, 21% of domestic violence convictions included such courses, compared to 5% in 2017.

The weight of domestic violence in judicial activity doubled between 2017 and 2021, increasing from 4% to 8%. The share of imprisonment sentences for domestic violence cases also rose significantly over the same period, from 5% to 11%.

Victim information on the criminal journey of the offender

French legislation aims to protect victims from the risks of intimidation, retaliations, and re-victimisation by granting them the right, under certain conditions, to be informed when the offender is released or has escaped (Articles 40-5, 144-2, and 712-16-2 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure).

The Judge for the Enforcement of Sentences (JAP) or the Probation and Integration Service (SPIP) must inform the victim of the temporary or permanent cessation of the offender’s incarceration (Article 712-16-2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure), including during temporary release, if there is a risk that the offender might come into contact with the victim, and if, due to the nature of the facts or the personality of the offender, such a meeting should be avoided.

Decree No. 2020-1640 of 21 December 2020 requires magistrates and penitentiary professionals to establish clear information channels to ensure the protection of victims. In addition to the systematic provision of information regarding the offender’s release date, these provisions encourage penitentiary professionals to exercise greater vigilance when granting temporary release, visit permits, and to closely monitor the circumstances of release from incarceration, especially in cases of release without judicial supervision.

Many courts have implemented specific information circuits to facilitate this process.

Protection orders

In France, protection orders are governed by Articles 515-9 to 515-13 of the Civil Code. They apply to situations of domestic violence and forced marriage and fall under the jurisdiction of the family court judge (JAF). The judge issues a protection order when there are serious reasons to believe that the alleged violence is credible and when the judge deems that the victim or their children are currently in danger. The protection order allows for the implementation of various emergency measures without waiting for a formal complaint, including removing the alleged perpetrator from the home or prohibiting them from contacting the victim and their children.

The law No. 2019-1480 of 28 December 2019 modified the legal framework for protection orders (OP) to make it an emergency procedure. The new Article 515-11 of the Civil Code stipulates that the JAF must now issue the OP not “as soon as possible” but “within a maximum of six days from the scheduling of the hearing.” In practice, the hearing date is set within 48 hours of the submission of the request by email to the court registry. Thus, a victim can obtain a protection order within eight days.

The protection order for the victim has become the norm, and if the JAF decides not to use this tool, they must specifically justify their decision. This strengthened obligation to provide reasons aims to encourage the JAF to make use of this mechanism.

From 2011 to 2021, the number of OP requests increased by a factor of 3.6, reaching 5,917. The acceptance rate also rose, reaching 68% in 2021, with 3,531 OPs issued that year. The prohibition for the defendant (the alleged offender) to contact the petitioner (the alleged victim) applies to 97% of granted OP requests.

The law No. 2024-536 of 13 June 2024 further strengthens protection orders by creating the Immediate Temporary Protection Order (OPPI). Within the context of the primary protection order request submitted by the victim, the public prosecutor may, with the victim’s consent, request an OPPI from the JAF. This procedure can be initiated based solely on the elements provided in the request if the prosecutor believes there are serious reasons to consider the alleged violence credible and that the victim or one or more children are in immediate and serious danger. The OPPI is then issued as an emergency within 24 hours. The principle of adversarial proceedings is restored after the JAF’s decision on the OPPI, during the examination of the standard protection order within six days. The victim’s request must include all required evidence, and the prosecutor’s decision to forward this request to the JAF is based solely on these elements.

The duration of the protection measures provided by the protection order has been extended from six to 12 months. Government representatives are no longer permitted to disclose the address of the protected person and their children to third parties. Custody of pets may be granted to the party requesting the OP.

Access to a protection order is essential for protecting foreign victims living with a foreign national legally residing in France. These victims may obtain a renewable residence permit provided they have first been granted a protection order (Article L. 316-3 of the Code on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners and the Right of Asylum). The residence permit is renewed as long as the protection order is renewed.

The law No. 2018-778 of 10 September 2018 reinforced this system by specifying that if the protection order has not been renewed, the residence permit may still be renewed if a complaint has been filed, and that women holding temporary residence permits automatically obtain a residence card if the perpetrator of the violence is definitively convicted.

The results of a survey on protection order decisions issued in 2016 were published in 2019 (Infostat Justice No. 171). This study analyses each decision, the timelines, the reasons for rejection, the profile of the petitioners and defendants, the presence of children, the requested and granted measures, and the defendant’s history. Following this survey, the Ministry of Justice published a “practical guide to the protection order” to raise awareness of this mechanism.

Information sharing between judicial actors

Protecting victims requires continuous information sharing throughout judicial proceedings among various actors, including public prosecutors, judicial court services, probation and integration services (SPIP), prison officials, victim support associations, socio-educational judicial control associations, and internal security forces.

To facilitate this, the Ministry of Justice began developing the SISPoPP tool in 2022. This system is designed to provide real-time, updated, and contextualised tracking of the accused, ensuring that any new information brought to the attention of the judicial system can be acted upon swiftly. Automated alerts will be sent to designated recipients when necessary for rapid response. This tool will also allow access to relevant criminal and civil case documents, their preservation, and the sharing of certain information based on each partner’s access level.

Lawyers

Given the complexity of domestic violence cases, it is strongly in the victim’s interest to be assisted by a lawyer. These cases often require gathering evidence quickly. There is currently a growing trend toward the development of lawyers specialising in domestic violence cases. These lawyers can provide regular assistance. However, the size of the court jurisdiction and the local bar association may be a limiting factor in this specialisation.

Legal aid

The law of 30 July 2020, aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence, grants provisional legal aid in urgent situations (Article 25).

Subject to financial conditions, the legal fees of lawyers and court costs incurred by victims can be covered partially or fully by the State under the legal aid system.

Protection measures

Eviction of the violent intimate partner from the conjugal home

The notion of eviction measures for the violent spouse must be understood broadly, encompassing all judicial, civil, or criminal measures pronounced at all stages of the procedure that result in removing the accused from the victim.

In criminal matters, there are extensive possibilities for prohibiting the alleged or proven perpetrator from contacting the victim in any way, appearing in places where the victim may be, and requiring the perpetrator to reside outside the conjugal home. Additionally, the Anti-Approach Bracelet (BAR) and the Emergency Phone Device (TGD) can be seen as eviction tools, as they help keep the violent partner away from the victim.

In the context of alternatives to prosecution (Article 41-1 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure, CPP) or penal composition, the public prosecutor can order the perpetrator to reside outside the couple’s home and, if necessary, refrain from appearing at or near that home. Unless there are particular circumstances, this separation is limited to six months.

The public prosecutor can also instruct the perpetrator not to appear for up to six months in specific places where the offence was committed or where the victim resides (Article 41-1, 6° and 7° of the CPP). Additionally, the prosecutor can prohibit the perpetrator from meeting or contacting the victim(s) for a maximum of six months. These measures can also be proposed by the public prosecutor within the framework of penal composition (Article 41-2, 9°, 10°, and 14° of the CPP).

The circular of 9 May 2019 recommends using fast-track procedures, such as immediate or deferred appearance, for repeated, severe acts of violence or situations of coercive control. These prosecution methods can be accompanied by eviction measures as part of judicial control (Article 138, 3°, 9°, and 17° of the CPP) or house arrest with electronic monitoring (Article 142-5 of the CPP), to ensure the victim’s swift protection and the perpetrator’s eviction.

During the COVID-19 crisis, a platform was established in collaboration between the Ministry of Justice and the Deputy Minister for Gender Equality to facilitate the eviction of violent spouses. The prosecutor may use this platform when considering the eviction of the violent spouse. Moreover, to enhance the supervision of perpetrators and prevent recidivism, the Grenelle on Domestic Violence called for the generalisation of centres for the rehabilitation of perpetrators.

Such obligations can also be imposed during sentencing, such as banning the perpetrator from certain places where the offence occurred or from contacting the victim. These measures can serve as an alternative to imprisonment and, since 1 August 2020, can complement an imprisonment sentence.

Eviction from the marital home can also be ordered as part of probation, socio-judicial follow-up, home detention with electronic surveillance (DDSE), sentence adjustments pronounced by the sentencing court or by the sentence enforcement court in the form of DDSE, semi-liberty, external placement, parole, sentence suspension, or sentence splitting, including suspensions for medical reasons.

In the event of a violation of the prohibition on appearing at the marital home, the Probation and Integration Service (SPIP) must urgently report the breach to the Judge for the Enforcement of Sentences (JAP). The JAP can exercise coercive powers, such as judicial retention, issuing an arrest warrant, ordering temporary incarceration, or suspending the measure of sentence adjustment, with the possibility of revocation following a contradictory debate. The victim must also be able to be contacted by the JAP and the victim support association designated by the judge.

Emergency Phone Device (TGD)

Inspired by the Spanish ATENPRO system, introduced in December 2005, the Emergency Phone Device (TGD) is a mobile phone equipped with a dedicated button that allows the victim to contact a tele-assistance service, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The operator assesses the danger and, if necessary, contacts the police or gendarmerie via a specific channel. The victim can be geolocated when they trigger the alert.

The TGD was rolled out across the whole of France by law No. 2014-873 of 4 August 2014, and its conditions for allocation were eased by law No. 2019-1480 of 28 December 2019. The TGD can be requested by any means, including by the victim themselves, for a renewable period of six months. The decision to allocate it is made by the public prosecutor following an assessment by a victim support association. The victim must be threatened by an intimate partner or ex-partner, the couple must be physically separated, and the victim must expressly consent to receiving the TGD.

A circular dated 9 May 2019, concerning the handling of domestic violence and the protection of victims, encouraged prosecutors not to reserve the TGD solely for situations of serious or imminent danger.

At the local level, the monitoring of this system is overseen by a steering committee composed of magistrates, lawyers, police forces, as well as representatives from the Departmental Council and specialised associations.

In December 2022, 3,451 of the 4,681 TGDs deployed in jurisdictions were assigned.

Anti-Approach Device (BAR)

Created by law No. 2019-1480 of 28 December 2019 and implemented by the State Council decree No. 2020-1161 of 23 September 2020, the Anti-Approach Device (BAR) is an electronic device designed to ensure, through geolocation and real-time monitoring, that an individual complies with a court order prohibiting them from approaching the victim within a specified distance. The system includes a mobile unit for the victim and the perpetrator, who wears the electronic bracelet. An alarm is triggered whenever the distance set by the court order is breached.

When the BAR system is activated due to the individual entering a pre-alert zone, a tele-operator contacts them to instruct them to change direction. If, despite this instruction, the perpetrator enters the alert zone, the operator contacts them again, telling them to leave the area. Simultaneously, another operator contacts the victim, advising them to take safety measures, and triggers a specific alert with the police or gendarmerie, who will then decide on the appropriate actions based on the information received.

The BAR can be imposed in both criminal and civil cases. In criminal cases, the measure applies to anyone accused of an offence punishable by at least three years of imprisonment (Article 132-45-1 of the Penal Code). In civil matters, the BAR can be imposed as part of a protection order (Article 515-11-1 of the Civil Code), though it cannot be enforced without the consent of both parties.

The deployment of the BAR across all jurisdictions was completed by the end of 2020, with around 1,000 victims benefiting from it each year.

Recourse against public institutions

Victims have the right to seek recourse against state authorities that engage in misconduct or fail to take appropriate preventive or protective measures in domestic violence cases.

They can approach the Defender of Rights (French Ombudsman), who handles individual complaints regarding allegations of rights and freedoms violations by public services or administrations, including those related to ongoing judicial procedures. The Defender of Rights is also responsible for ensuring the professional conduct of law enforcement officers, including the police and gendarmerie. For example, women victims can refer cases to the Defender of Rights in situations where law enforcement agencies refuse to register their complaints.

4. Support for victims

Information of victims on support services

Victims have access to multiple and diverse sources of information regarding support services and legal measures. In addition to online resources available on the website www.stop-violences-femmes.gouv.fr and the various brochures published by authorities concerning different forms of violence covered by the convention, victim support offices located in courts or police stations, managed by associations, provide practical information and explain the judicial process and ongoing procedures to victims.

Detection of violence and risk assessment

Telephone and online reporting services

The primary hotline for supporting women victims of violence is 3919 “Violences femmes info,” created and operated by the Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes (FNSF) since 1992. It offers victims anonymous and confidential information about their rights and guidance on available support services. The service is also multilingual.

In 2021, 92,674 calls were answered, with 50,931 of them related to violence against women, 92% of which were committed within a couple.

Other telephone helplines managed by associations provide listening, support, and guidance services specific to certain forms of violence, such as forced marriages (“SOS mariage forcé”) and violence against women with disabilities (“Écoute violences femmes handicapées”). Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals can reach emergency services through the 114 emergency number. The 119 hotline and the website allo119.gouv.fr allow minors who are victims or witnesses of family violence to report incidents or for those around them to notify authorities when a child appears to be in danger.

Launched in 2022, the Digital Reporting and Victim Support Platform (PNAV) took over from the previous Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Reporting Platform (PVSS), expanding its scope to include domestic violence, discrimination, and all forms of hate, including cyber-harassment. Specially trained police officers and gendarmes receive reports via chat 24/7, anonymously. They provide advice to victims, guide them towards filing complaints, and direct them to victim support associations.

NGO sector

For many victims, especially those in vulnerable situations, associations serve as an essential “entry point” to the support system. Often working in networks, these organisations provide territorial coverage and offer either physical or telephone hotlines for initial assistance. They maintain offices with local entities, such as judicial courts in the framework of victim support offices, police stations, and gendarmerie units, and collaborate with other partners such as lawyers.

Recently, victim support association networks have expanded into public healthcare institutions, offering services such as on-site assistance in medico-judicial units (UMJ).

Victims can also discreetly signal their need for help through association contact points located in certain supermarkets. These points provide victims with essential information and connect them with law enforcement.

Social sector

Victims can contact a social worker from the Family Allowance Fund (CAF) by calling 3230. The social worker can assist them with various administrative procedures, inform them of available support, direct them to specialised organisations or associations based on their needs, and ensure the security of their social benefits provided by the CAF.

Additionally, the Departmental Council’s expertise in maternal and child protection (PMI) allows its social workers to identify cases of violence and encourage victims to confide in them.

For example, in November 2019, the city of Nantes opened Citad’elles, a secure space dedicated to women victims of violence. Accessible 24/7, this centre offers women and their children a place for reception, listening, support, information, and assistance, including the possibility to file complaints in collaboration with the National Police and the National Gendarmerie. The multidisciplinary team assists women with essential processes, such as health, legal aid, social support, psychological care, and filing complaints. Additionally, the centre offers activities to help rebuild self-confidence and provide a source of renewal, such as support groups and art therapy.

Healthcare sector

In 2019, the National Authority for Health (HAS) issued best practice guidelines for healthcare professionals on identifying and intervening in cases of domestic violence. These guidelines encourage medical personnel to systematically ask female patients about any potential violence they may have experienced.

In the healthcare field, the primary measure for screening, diagnosing, and supporting women victims of violence relies on the “women victims of violence” programme, with designated professionals in hospital emergency services. This initiative is supported by a campaign for awareness and training of professionals.

Health, security, and justice agreements, resulting from ministerial instructions on 3 September and 20 December 2019, have been established between judicial authorities and healthcare institutions. These agreements aim to facilitate reporting to judicial authorities, allow victims to file complaints within healthcare facilities, and enable the collection of evidence without requiring an immediate complaint, simplifying the legal process for victims.

Some hospitals already offered these types of services, such as the Bordeaux University Hospital, which has housed an Emergency Care Unit for Victims of Assaults (CAUVA) since 1999. More recently, the Women’s House of the Saint-Denis department introduced a weekly session run by a police officer, integrating the process of filing a complaint into the comprehensive care pathway.

The National Council of the Order of Doctors (CNOM) called upon all 103 Departmental Councils of the Order of Doctors (CDOM) to establish a Vigilance, Violence, Security (VVS) commission. The objective of this commission is to enable the signing of local protocols with the justice system and hospitals to assist doctors in reporting cases of domestic violence, facilitate the identification of victims, and ensure their protection. A toolkit was developed, and a vade-mecum was distributed in partnership with the National Authority for Health (HAS) and CNOM in October 2020.

CNOM implemented regional actions to inform professionals about the scope of law No. 2020-936 of 30 July 2020, which permits a “permissive exception” to medical confidentiality. This exception, strictly regulated, applies only under specific circumstances: when a woman is under coercion and in immediate danger. A standard reporting template is available to medical doctors, and tools have been distributed to assist them in writing medical certificates.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, the National Order of Pharmacists, in collaboration with MIPROF, quickly introduced a “reflex sheet.” This document outlines how pharmacists could notify law enforcement in cases of reported violence and provides useful contacts to direct victims to appropriate support.

An assessment tool for evaluating the severity and danger of domestic violence situations was developed by the General Directorate of Healthcare Services (DGOS) of the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with professional orders and in coordination with MIPROF (Inter-ministerial Mission for the Protection of Women). This tool has been distributed across various healthcare professional networks.

Education sector

Staff in the National Education system (teachers, social, and healthcare staff) play a direct role in identifying cases of domestic violence by detecting situations where children are in danger or at risk of harm. They then transmit relevant information to Departmental Councils (which are the authority responsible for protecting children)and report the most severe cases to the Public Prosecutor.

National Education personnel have received a standardised violence reporting form along with guidelines to help better identify and report domestic violence cases. A model tripartite agreement has been established between the Ministry of Education, the departmental councils, and the prosecutor’s offices.

Professional confidentiality

In general, a professional who identifies a case of domestic violence may be exempt from maintaining professional confidentiality and is authorised to report such violence under certain conditions. For example, if the victim is a minor, the professional is obligated to report the situation without the consent of the child or their parents. In the case of an adult victim, reporting without their consent is only permitted if the individual is unable to protect themselves due to age or health condition.

For medical professionals, the law of 30 July 2020 modified the conditions under which medical confidentiality can be waived in cases of domestic violence (Article 226-14 of the Penal Code). Now, the consent of an adult victim is no longer required if they are under the coercive control of the perpetrator. The doctor alone is authorised to assess, in good conscience, whether the violence poses an immediate danger to the victim’s life and whether the victim is unable to protect themselves due to the psychological constraint imposed by the perpetrator’s control. Reporting without the victim’s consent can only take place in urgent situations and must remain exceptional cases.

Support for victims after reporting: Reception, listening, and guidance

Associations

There are 120 day reception centres across 100 departments, as well as 200 Listening, Reception, and Referral Centres (LEAO), primarily managed by associative networks and local NGOs. These structures welcome, inform, and provide guidance to facilitate their interactions with the police, judicial, medical, ans social support services.

The day reception centres and LEAOs provide victims with initial information and guidance to other services. They also offer additional services such as social support, material aid, psychological and legal assistance, individual counselling, support groups, and workshops.

Social sector

Universal emergency aid

To prevent victims from delaying separation or returning to the home shared with the violent partner, due to financial constraints, a universal emergency aid was established in 2023 to facilitate their conjugal separation. This aid consists of an interest-free loan, or in some cases, a non-repayable grant depending on financial circumstances, without income conditions. It is provided by the Family Allowance Fund (CAF) within three to five days of filing a complaint, the issuance of a protection order, or a referral to the prosecutor by a third party, such as a medical doctor. The violent partner is responsible for repaying the sums involved to the CAF. The amount of this aid depends on the victim’s income and the number of children.

Municipalities and departments

The Municipality Social Services (CCAS) participate in the social support of victims. Departments, as the leaders of local social policies, provide financial support to associations specialised in fighting domestic violence. Victims can also seek assistance and support from social workers at medico-social centres under the authority of the Departmental Council.

Healthcare sector

Specialised services

In certain hospitals, specialised care units are dedicated to supporting victims through multidisciplinary teams composed of emergency physicians, forensic specialists, gynaecologists, psychologists, nurses, midwives, and social workers.

Women’s centres (Maisons des femmes)

To ensure interdisciplinary care for victims, an innovative model was created in Seine-Saint-Denis in 2016: the Maison des femmes (Women’s House). This model is currently being expanded nationwide, spearheaded by the ReStart collective. The principle is to bring together all medical-social actors in one place, along with partners from the police, justice, and legal sectors. Each patient is offered a coordinated, multi-professional care pathway managed by a doctor or midwife. Support workshops, as well as legal, administrative, police, and employment assistance services, are also available.

Shelters

Emergency shelters

There are various types of shelters available for women victims of violence, with varying durations depending on their needs. These facilities, managed by specialised associations, include emergency shelters, provisions for stays lasting between three and six months (renewable), and intermediate housing options such as social residences, family pensions, and transition houses, which can accommodate women for several months or even years. Specifically dedicated to female victims, these facilities offer gender-non-mixed environments and specialised support. Some of them also cater to mothers with their children.

These structures operate within different schemes, such as Accommodation and Social Rehabilitation Centres (CHRS) or housing and rooms that are eligible for temporary housing assistance. They are funded by the authorities and not only provide safe shelter but also support victims in their recovery process, helping them regain autonomy and ensure their long-term safety.

These facilities fall under the responsibility of the departmental service responsible for allocating accommodation places (SIAO). The SIAO manage the 115 emergency hotline, the social emergency service that directs individuals in need to available accommodation.

As part of the Grenelle on Domestic Violence, a working group was specifically dedicated to addressing the issue of emergency shelter. This group produced a charter signed by the Ministry of Housing, the Secretary of State for Equality between Women and Men and the Fight against Discrimination, the Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes (FNSF), and the Fédération des Acteurs de la Solidarité (FAS), aimed at facilitating the integration of women victims of violence into specialised accommodation. This charter reaffirms the central role of the SIAO in guiding female victims of violence. Through this charter, the SIAO commits to prioritising these women for placement in specialised accommodation or, if unavailable, in gender-segregated generalist facilities. Particular attention must be given to ensuring that accommodation is adapted to the needs of the most vulnerable victims, including young women (18-25 years old), women with children, and women with disabilities.

The number of accommodation spaces for women victims has steadily increased under successive interministerial plans and the Grenelle. As of 31 October 2022, 9,874 places were dedicated to women victims of violence. However, the availability of these places varies across regions, with an average of 1.3 places per 10,000 inhabitants. In 2021, more than 1.6 million nights were funded.

Longer-term housing

Regarding the access to long-term housing, several measures have been put in place to assist victims. Women victims of violence are among the priority groups for accessing social housing. As part of the Grenelle on Domestic Violence, the Visale guarantee (a public rental guarantee that provides free rental guarantees) was extended to women victims of domestic violence.

Victims in situations of particular vulnerability

In France, recognised vulnerabilities include sexual orientation, gender identity, age (young women and the elderly), health conditions, disability, living in rural or overseas territories, as well as migrant or refugee status.

It is widely acknowledged that policies aimed at these particularly vulnerable groups remain underdeveloped. This results in barriers and difficulties for victims in accessing information about their rights, shortcomings in identifying victims, obstacles to accessing services, the inadequacy of existing support and protection services, and the persistence of negative stereotypes. However, the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) notes that, with the implementation of successive interministerial plans, attention to these groups of women has increased, as has the focus on children who are victims of domestic violence (GREVIO, 2019, p. 20).

Support for children

The “Living Conditions and Safety” survey estimates that, on average, between 2010 and 2015, 143,000 children lived in a household where a woman reported experiencing physical or sexual violence from her partner or ex-partner. The High Council for Equality estimates that 40% to 60% of children exposed to domestic violence are also victims of physical abuse (HCE, 2020). Recent developments in French law have led to better recognition of children’s status as victims, both in civil matters, for their protection, and in criminal matters.

Initially, children were considered mere witnesses to domestic violence, and then as being exposed to it. However, they are now defined by law as full-fledged victims. Article 13 of the 3 August 2018 law provides for increased penalties when a minor witnesses acts of violence committed by the intimate partner of the victim. In 2022, a white paper on children exposed to domestic violence was published, and a national protocol model for the care of children present during domestic homicides was disseminated.

The Public Prosecutor must ensure that the child is able to participate as a civil party in judicial proceedings, represented by a court-appointed guardian if the victim parent is unable to represent their interests or if their interests diverge (Article D1-11-1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure). This also implies that these children receive a specialised interview by trained investigators and undergo a medical-psychological assessment to evaluate the harm suffered, which can take place in a pediatric unit for children in danger (UAPED).

The 28 January 2020 circular recommends systematically assessing the situation of children exposed to domestic violence, for example, by referring the case to the Departmental Council for an urgent evaluation.

Some specialised structures for women victims of domestic violence have developed parenting support services and, more rarely, services for the care and follow-up of children themselves.

5. Prevention

Public awareness campaigns

Public awareness activities have become systematic over the past three decades and continue annually through actions implemented under interministerial plans. For example, as part of the government’s 5th plan against domestic violence, announced on 1 October 2018, a large-scale television campaign targeting witnesses was launched under the slogan #nerienlaisserpasser. This campaign was also accompanied by a social media component.

Victim support and women’s rights advocacy organisations have long carried out significant work aimed at raising public awareness at both the local and national levels. Their actions in this area are supported by the authorities, particularly through contributions to their prevention and awareness-raising initiatives. Some associations benefit from free airings of their communication and information campaigns on public radio and television stations.

Prevention in schools

Educational institutions have a legal obligation to inform students about gender equality, the prevention of gender-based stereotypes, and violence against women. Gender equality is integrated across various subjects in the core curriculum, including literature, history, moral and civic education, and life and earth sciences. Since the start of the 2018 academic year, schools have designated equality representatives who are responsible for raising student awareness on gender equality, in collaboration with associations and with the involvement of parents.

Professional training

The obligation to provide training on violence against women and the psychological mechanisms of control is enshrined in Article 51 of the 4 August 2014 law on real equality between women and men.

The Grenelle on Domestic Violence highlighted the importance of increasing efforts in training professionals on the specific handling of violence against women. This training must be generalised and extended to all professions likely to interact with potential victims, particularly through interdisciplinary training sessions.

MIPROF

The MIPROF (Interministerial Mission for the Protection of Women Against Violence and the Fight Against Human Trafficking) is tasked with promoting the training of professionals across various sectors, primarily through the development of educational kits. MIPROF is responsible for implementing a national training plan, prioritising trainers (initial and continuing education) and coordinators in various structures. It has also established a certified online training programme for professionals working in medical and social care facilities. A guide on violence against women with disabilities, aimed at all professionals, as well as a guide on violence against women in overseas territories, have been developed. The website arretonslesviolences.gouv.fr provides information on the various forms of violence against women and makes MIPROF’s educational tools available to professionals.

According to MIPROF’s 2017-2021 activity report, more than 2,000 trainers and coordinators have been trained, 32 training tools on violence against women and human trafficking have been created, and over 1.2 million professionals have been trained using these tools.

Law enforcement sector

The issue of violence against women is addressed in the initial training of law enforcement officers through various courses. The Grenelle on Domestic Violence introduced an enhanced initial and continuing training programme on how to manage a first contact with women victims of domestic violence, aimed at both police officers and gendarmes. This training is now mandatory for all police and gendarmerie recruits during their initial education.

Within both forces, guides on handling domestic and sexual violence are widely distributed to personnel. These guides explain the psychological mechanisms involved in such violence, provide guidance on how to support victims, and outline the necessary procedural steps.

For continuing education, programmes are offered at the local level in collaboration with local partners and victim support associations.

Judicial sector

The École nationale de la magistrature (ENM) is actively involved in training magistrates on issues related to violence against women, offering various training formats. Initial training includes specific actions for trainee magistrates (ADJ), with dedicated segments across different subjects in the cursus, as well as internships and courses preparing them for their first roles. Over the past decade, ENM’s continuing education has focused heavily on domestic violence, offering a dedicated three-day session open annually to a broad audience of 180 participants. Additionally, other sessions include specific segments for family court judges (JAF) or juvenile judges (JE), particularly during changes in function.

Healthcare sector

In the healthcare field, initial training rarely covers the issue of violence against women in depth. However, tools such as brochures, videos, and guides on different forms of violence have been developed by MIPROF and made available to healthcare professionals. Violence against women coordinators designated in hospitals are trained using these tools, and their role is to raise awareness and train their colleagues.

Educational sector

For National Education staff (teachers, education personnel, administrators, etc.), one of the measures resulting from the Grenelle on Domestic Violence was the creation of a mandatory initial and ongoing training module on gender equality. This module, implemented from the start of the 2021 school year, lasts 18 hours and is provided to 21,000 trainee teachers annually.

Actions towards perpetrators

The National Federation of Associations and Centres for the Rehabilitation of Domestic and Family Violence Perpetrators (FNACAV) has established a helpline specifically dedicated to perpetrators of violence.

Responsibility workshops

Introduced by Article 50 of Law No. 2014-873 of 4 August 2014 for real equality between women and men, responsibility workshops are aimed at perpetrators of domestic violence. The goal of these workshops is to make perpetrators aware of the impact of their actions, both directly and indirectly, on their victims. Participation in these workshops may result from either an individual’s request or a judicial mandate, and can be implemented either before or after sentencing. These workshops are implemented by 32 associations affiliated with the National Federation of Associations of Centres for the Rehabilitation of Domestic and Family Violence Perpetrators.

The Research and Innovation Laboratory of the Directorate of Penitentiary Administration (DAP), in collaboration with the Lyon-based startup Reverto, has developed a virtual reality project aimed at domestic violence perpetrators. This project involves the viewing of an immersive film depicting a coercive control scenario. The tool uses videos shown through virtual reality headsets to raise perpetrators’ awareness of the effects of their actions on their victims and children. The headset projects a couple’s life story, from their initial meeting to living together and the birth of a child. The video alternates between the perspectives of the perpetrator, the victim, and the child. This system aims to generate empathy for the victim and provoke reflection on the perpetrator’s behaviour and its consequences. The use of these headsets is combined with support from health professionals, particularly psychologists, to help perpetrators understand the consequences of their violence.

Probationary placement and Perpetrator Rehabilitation Centres

A system for finding housing for perpetrators of domestic violence has been implemented to allow victims to remain in their family home. The probationary placement of individuals suspected of domestic violence, experimented in 2021, is a pre-sentencing measure applied before any judgement, taking the legal form of a judicial control measure. This requires the alleged perpetrator to reside in specific accommodation while awaiting trial or the conclusion of the investigation. The individual must reside in a designated place and follow strict social and psychological supervision. This supervision ensures a comprehensive approach to the individual’s rehabilitation and involves three main actors: magistrates, the probation and reintegration services (SPIP), and an association responsible for providing accommodation and support. This pre-sentencing scheme allows for better personalisation of the sentence based on the individual’s behaviour and personal progress during the placement.

Following the Grenelle Conference on Domestic Violence, the government decided to establish Rehabilitation Centres for Domestic Violence Perpetrators (CPCA). As of 28 October 2022, 30 CPCAs were operating in 84 metropolitan departments and five overseas regions. The support offered by CPCAs, as outlined in project calls, includes a core responsibility module and two additional modules: one focusing on therapeutic and medico-social support, and the other on socio-professional reintegration. Some CPCAs also offer complementary modules such as support groups, parenting support, and housing assistance.

Socio-educational care in post-sentencing monitoring

Perpetrators of domestic violence may also be subject to preventive programmes through a treatment order imposed after conviction as part of socio-judicial monitoring. Convicted perpetrators ordered to undergo treatment can participate in individual or group therapies provided by healthcare professionals. They can also join support groups managed by the SPIP, which oversee penitentiary services at the departmental level. These support groups aim to prevent recidivism by helping individuals recognise situations at risk of violence and develop strategies to avoid them.

The Law of 30 July 2020, in Article 4, added that care for perpetrators may take place in a suitable residential facility, where the individual is required to live. This led to the introduction of probationary placement, which allows for imposing certain conditions on the perpetrator under judicial control. This measure operates through a tripartite system, involving judicial courts, SPIPs, and associations commissioned by the courts. Those subject to judicial control with probationary placement (CJPP) are cared for by the responsible association, which provides both housing and partial psycho-educational monitoring. This responsibility is shared with the probation and reintegration counsellors (CPIP).

6. Statistics and research

MIPROF

The Interministerial Mission for the Protection of Women against Violence and the Fight against Human Trafficking (MIPROF), established in 2013 under the authority of the State Secretariat for Equality between Women and Men and the Fight against Discrimination, is responsible for coordinating the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data.

As the national observatory for violence against women, MIPROF oversees a working group dedicated to statistics on violence against women. This group includes statistical services from various ministries, such as the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice, as well as research institutions. Since 2013, these entities have regularly produced specific data on violence against women, adhering to the quality standards required by MIPROF. This data is subsequently submitted to the national observatory and published annually in the “National Observatory Letter on Violence against Women” on 25 November, available online. The statistics from different ministries are compiled into a single document.

Territorial observatories

Several regional observatories, such as the Île-de-France Regional Observatory on Violence against Women, also contribute to improving quantitative and qualitative knowledge about violence against women at the local level, under the coordination of MIPROF.

MIPROF has recorded 23 departmental observatories created by various organisations or institutions.

Statistical services of administrations

Established in 2014, the Ministerial Statistical Service for Internal Security (SSMSI) centralises, verifies, processes, and disseminates data on domestic violence. The Ministry of Justice collects data primarily through the decision-making information system, which tracks the legal handling of cases from the time they are opened by the prosecutor’s office, and through the national criminal record, which registers sentencing decisions. A statistical analysis of the general civil register (RGC) provides information on the number and nature of requests and decisions regarding protection orders.

The National Observatory for Child Protection harmonises administrative data on child protection, relying on crime and offence data recorded by the police or gendarmerie from SSMSI, as well as reports of child victims collected by the Concern Reporting and Evaluation Units (CRIP). Annual statistics are also provided by the National Telephone Helpline for Children at Risk (SNATED), commonly known as “119 – Allô enfance en danger.”

National surveys

Several national surveys have been conducted on gender-based violence in France. The first significant statistical initiative, the National Survey on Violence against Women in France (ENVEFF), was carried out in 2000. It aimed to assess the frequency of various types of violence experienced by adult women in different contexts: public space, the workplace, and within conjugal relationships, including verbal, psychological, physical, and sexual violence. The survey revealed the prevalence of violence across all social backgrounds and age groups, as well as the silence surrounding these issues, highlighting the impact of psychological violence and the existence of marital rape.

In 2015, the National Institute of Demographic Studies (INED) launched the “Violence and Gender Relations: Contexts and Consequences of Violence Experienced by Women and Men” (VIRAGE) survey. The first results were published in 2016. This survey measures experiences of violence within relationships, in the workplace, in the family, and in public spaces, addressing psychological, verbal, physical, and sexual violence, both recent and past, including during childhood.

Research on violence against women is conducted by numerous and diverse institutions. Studies by independent administrative authorities, such as the High Council for Equality (HCE) and the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH), highlight specific issues affecting women who are victims of violence. Academic and associative sectors also play an important role in the development of research in France.

7. Sources

Chandler Emilie and Vérien Dominique (2023) Plan Rouge VIF – Améliorer le traitement judiciaire des violences intrafamiliales, rapport parlementaire, Paris, Assemblée nationale et Sénat. https://www.vie-publique.fr/rapport/289498-lutte-contre-les-violences-intrafamiliales-rapport-chandler-verien

Darsonville Audrey, Dayan Michelle et Prendes Audrey (2024) « Quinquennat Macron : quelle évolution de la lutte contre les violences conjugales ? », Dalloz Actualité, 12 juillet 2024. https://www.dalloz-actualite.fr/interview/quinquennat-macron-quelle-evolution-de-lutte-contre-violences-conjugales

Gouvernement Français, arretonslesviolences.gouv.fr (2024), La politique de lutte contre les violences faites aux femmes : https://arretonslesviolences.gouv.fr/l-etat-vous-protege/politique-de-lutte-contre-les-violences-faites-au-femmes

Gouvernement Français, info.gouv.fr (2023), Grenelle des violences conjugales – 3 ans d’action et d’engagement du Gouvernement, publié le 02/09/2022 : https://www.info.gouv.fr/dossier-de-presse/grenelle-des-violences-conjugales-3-ans-daction-et-dengagement-du-gouvernement

Groupe d’experts sur la lutte contre la violence à l’égard des femmes et la violence domestique (2019), GREVIO Rapport d’évaluation de référence, France, Strasbourg,Conseil de l’Europe. https://rm.coe.int/grevio-inf-2019-16/168098c619

Haut Conceil à l’Egalité (2020), Violences conjugales Garantir la protection des femmes victimes et de leurs enfants tout au long de leur parcours, Rapport n°2020-09-22 VIO-43 publié le 9 octobre 2020, Paris, HCE. https://haut-conseil-egalite.gouv.fr/violences-faites-aux-femmes/travaux-du-hce/article/violences-conjugales-garantir-la-protection-des-femmes-victimes-et-de-leurs

Jouanneau Solenne (2024), « L’ordonnance de protection contre les violences conjugales : un dispositif sous-employé », The Conversation, 4 mars 2024, https://theconversation.com/lordonnance-de-protection-contre-les-violences-conjugales-un-dispositif-sous-employe-224428

Ministère de la Justice (2021), Violences conjugales : Les 10 mesures phares du ministère de la Justice 2 ans après, publié le 25 nov. 2021 : https://www.justice.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/migrations/portail/art_pix/Grenelle_violence_conjugales-Livret.pdf

Ministère de l’Égalité entre les femmes et les hommes et de la Lutte contre les discriminations (2022), Prévenir et lutter contre les violences au sein du couple, publié le 13/04/2022, mis à jour le 24/11/2023, https://www.egalite-femmes-hommes.gouv.fr/prevenir-et-lutter-contre-les-violences-au-sein-du-couple

Moreel Béatrice (2021) « Quels outils juridiques et administratifs pour lutter contre les féminicides ? », The Conversation, 31 août 2021. https://theconversation.com/quels-outils-juridiques-et-administratifs-pour-lutter-contre-les-feminicides-164337

Observatoire national des violences faites aux femmes, MIPROF (2024), Les chiffres de référence sur les violences faites aux femmes : https://arretonslesviolences.gouv.fr/je-suis-professionnel/chiffres-de-reference-violences-faites-aux-femmes

Rome Isabelle (2023), « Violences conjugales : état des lieux et perspectives : vers un modèle français ? », in AJ Famille 2023.