There are many resources and contacts you can turn to for assistance and support if you experience gender-based violence while in France for your studies or research.
Consent: No Means No
As part of the National Plan to Combat Gender-Based Violence, the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research has teamed up with Sexe et Consentement to launch a national campaign to raise awareness about consent.
What students have to say about consent (in partnership with Konbini)
Insights from Ivan Berquiez, Psychiatrist
Guidance and support units on university campuses
Created by higher education institutions and the CROUS, guidance and support units are available throughout France to provide assistance and support to individuals who experience gender-based violence.
The etudiant.gouv.fr website offers an interactive map where you can find contact information for these guidance and support units, as well as information about resources provided by higher education institutions and the CROUS.
What should I do if I am a victim or witness of gender-based violence?
Here are some tips in case you are a victim or witness of gender-based violence:
- Talk about what happened and don't stay alone.
- Collect and keep evidence (email, text messages, photos, screenshots, etc.) and write a detailed account of the facts if possible (date, time, location, names of witnesses, actions taken, words spoken, feelings, reactions, etc.).
- If you are a witness, make yourself available to the victim and offer guidance on who to talk to and what to do next.
Your institution of higher education's violence and discrimination reporting system can forward the report to management for disciplinary action.
The institution's management—with help of the Board of Education, if necessary—may take one of the following actions:
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Initiate an internal administrative investigation.
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Implement protective measures (such as a temporary ban on campus access).
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Analyze and address the situation by initiating a disciplinary procedure.
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Refer the matter to the public prosecutor, depending on the situation (Article 40 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure).
Where to find information and who to contact
At your place of study, you can reach out to:
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Your institution's reporting system
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Your institution's gender equality advisor
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The university health center
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Your institution's social services center
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CROUS social services
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Student associations or student representatives, who can also offer guidance
The following are useful off-campus contacts and resources:
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Call 17 (Police/Gendarmerie) or 112 (European number) in case of emergency (toll-free).
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Call 3919, the national number for women victims of violence, available 24/7.
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Visit the official website at arretonslesviolences.gouv.fr.
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Visit the national reporting/pre-complaint platform: https://www.service-public.fr/cmi
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Go to a police station to file a complaint directly.
Specialized national associations
There is a national network of specialized associations in France that can provide you with guidance, support, and assistance.
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