1 in 3 women victim of beatings, rape or murder in the world

"Violence against women, children and especially young girls is not violence like any other," said the minister, who was speaking at the conference on "violence and sexuality" organized by the UNESCO Chair in Sexual and Sexual Health. human rights.

"They have one and the same objective, one and the same result: to reproduce, generation after generation, inequalities between women and men, to maintain the submission of women and - let us say it clearly - male domination" , said Ms. Touraine.

Direct consequences on health

"This violence is there to hinder the emancipation of women, prevent their well-being and the exercise of their rights: their sexual and reproductive rights, their right to autonomy and, of course, their right to health", she added during the first international day on innovation and research in sexual health and human rights education.

The minister also mentioned "the consequences that we do not immediately perceive on the physical, mental and reproductive health of the victims", as shown by studies by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Health. demographic studies (INED).

Thus, “domestic violence increases the risk of miscarriage” and “women victims of violence in France are 26 times more likely to attempt suicide”.

“Around the world, mental health problems, psychological distress and suicidal behavior are common among women who have experienced partner violence (2). In the WHO study, psychological distress was described by symptoms such as crying easily, not enjoying life, weariness and suicidal thoughts,” explains the WHO Multi-Country Health Study. women and domestic violence against them.

Education, prevention

The fight against sexual violence is not only that of women and victims, continued the minister, affirming her “conviction that it is also a fight for society as a whole. »

The training of health professionals, who are often the first interlocutors and the first recourse for women victims of violence, is recommended by the WHO.

In France, it was included in the 4th interministerial plan for preventing and combating violence against women (2014-2016). For doctors, this training will apply in 2016, says the ministry.

Each year more than 216,000 women are victims of violence committed by their partner, the government recalled at the end of 2014.

Also read: Violence against women. The shock measures of Christiane Taubira

In addition, 86,000 women report having been victims of rape or attempted rape, of which only 10% file a complaint, added the Ministry of Social Affairs and Women's Rights.

beaten men

Domestic violence also affects men. It is estimated that a man dies every thirteen days under the blows of his partner. Associations fighting against domestic violence record some 7,000 complaints from battered men each year.

Also read: Domestic Violence. Prison closed for the ex-companion of Maxime Gaget