What do the figures show on violence against women in France?

Numerous demonstrations took place in France on Saturday, November 23, ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25. Two high-profile cases that came to light in early autumn reflect the extent of sexist and sexual violence in France: the revelation of allegations of sexual violence against Abbé Pierre and the trial of Dominique Pelicot, accused of drugging his wife so she could be raped by more than 50 men, who are also suspects in the trial.

Whatever form it takes – sexual assault, harassment, rape, domestic violence or femicide – violence against women is widespread. In 1993, the United Nations (UN) adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is defined as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women , including the threat of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether in public or private life.”

In France, several statistics, although only partially reflecting reality, make it possible to assess the number of women who are victims of violence.

Why is it so difficult to measure sexual and gender-based violence?

The main available data on violence against women come from two types of annual reports from the Ministerial Statistical Service for Internal Security (SSMSI). The first is a statistical report entitled ‘Insecurity and Crime’, based on complaints registered every year in France by the police and the national gendarmerie (but which does not take into account other acts, such as complaints filed without charges have been filed).

However, it is not an exhaustive assessment, because not all victims systematically file a complaint, or sometimes do so much later. In the wake of the #MeToo revelations, the number of complaints about sexual violence has increased significantly. In 2023, half of all victims filed a complaint more than six months after the event and 17% more than five years later (compared to 9% in 2016).

To better understand the actual situation, the French government is issuing a second annual report entitled “Personal experiences and security aftermath” (VRS). It surveys a representative sample of people aged 18 to 74 in France about the crimes and abuse they have been victims of over their lives.

Sexual violence is increasing

According to the latest VRS survey published in late 2023, 270,000 women say they have been victims of physical sexual violence (rape, attempted rape and sexual assault), while 1.14 million women say they have experienced no -physical sexual violence (sexual harassment and sexual harassment). indecent exposure) in 2022.

But only a small minority filed a complaint with the police or gendarmerie. Only 6% for physical sexual violence and 2% for non-physical sexual violence. Those who did not complain felt that “it would have been useless” (23%), that “it was not serious enough” (23%) or that their testimony “would not have been taken seriously” (15%). .

Consequently, the data collected by law enforcement authorities are logically less numerous than the results of the declarative surveys, but still show an annual increase. In 2023, 114,100 formal complaints of sexual violence were registered, 85% of which were filed by women – a consistent annual rate.

In the context of being able to speak openly, made easier from 2017 by the #MeToo movement, the number of victims of sexual violence registered by the police and gendarmerie in 2023 was 7% higher than in 2022, with the number of older incidents also being increased. registered.

Underage women are the main victims of sexual violence

Of the 114,100 victims of sexual violence registered by law enforcement agencies in 2023, 65,300 were minors, the majority of whom were young women. However, boys between the ages of 9 and 19 are just as likely to be victims of sexual violence.

On the other hand, the perpetrators were almost exclusively men. In 2023, of the 76,621 people accused by the police and gendarmerie of clear cases of sexual violence, 96% were men and 27% were between 30 and 44 years old.

Additionally, according to statements from the 2023 VRS survey, 52% of victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault said they knew their attacker. In 13% of cases the perpetrator was the partner, in 15% an ex-partner and in 11% a friend. The report finds that women are six times more likely to be victims of all physical sexual violence than men.

Femicides are at the heart of domestic violence

On average, a woman is murdered every three days by her partner or ex-partner. According to the 2023 report of the Inter-Ministerial Mission for the Protection of Women (MIPROF), there were 93 femicides and 319 attempted femicides. Some feminist groups consider the figures to be underestimated. The #NousToutes collective counted at least 135 femicides in 2023 and has already reported 122 for 2024 on November 20.

The MIPROF report adds to this count the 773 victims of harassment by a spouse or ex-spouse that led to suicide or a suicide attempt.

The Genese (Gender and Security) survey, conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2021, estimates that 3.6 million women aged 18 to 74 (15.9%) said they had physically or had experienced sexual violence by at least one partner. once. The number of registered victims of domestic violence in 2022 has increased by 15% compared to 2021.

Sexism: one form of sexual violence will lead to another

Although outwardly invisible, psychological violence should not be underestimated. The VRS survey found that the vast majority of women who experienced domestic violence reported very significant (36%) and moderately significant (42%) psychological abuse. The 2018 Law Against Sexist and Sexual Violence specifies criminal offenses for sexist insults and street harassment. Since the law was passed, 2,600 violations of this type have been registered by law enforcement agencies in France.

Gender stereotypes and casual sexism also persist and are mentioned in the 2023 Annual Report on the current situation of sexism in France by the High Council for Equality between Women and Men (HCE): “Public opinion recognizes and deplores its existence of sexism, but does not reject it in practice, a phenomenon that mainly occurs among the men surveyed. This discrepancy between perception, statements and practice has tangible consequences in terms of symbolic, physical, sexual and economic violence, up to the most violent expressions there is a continuum of violence.”

The report is based on a ‘sexism barometer’ which shows that a majority of women experience it on a daily basis: 57% of women have already been victims of sexist jokes or comments (two in three of which are in higher social professional positions). categories), 41% have been subjected to whistling and inappropriate gestures from men and 29% to inappropriate comments about their clothing or body shape.

The 2024 edition of the HCE report shows that the vast majority of French women and men once again find that gender inequality persists: 92% of the population believes that women and men are not equal in at least one of the social areas are treated. Nine in ten women say they have changed certain actions and behaviors to avoid falling victim to sexism.