“Femmes du Monde in Seine-Saint-Denis 2023”: A Week of Exchanges and Commitment

The International Observatory on Violence against Women welcomed the Comorian delegation to Seine-Saint-Denis during the Femmes du Monde 2023 week. This training week is part of the FICOL project, “Territories protecting Women Victims of Violence” aiming to provide a space for collaboration between the delegations of the two pilot territories, Jénine and Ngazidja, and the team of the International Observatory of Violence against Women. Unfortunately, this year, the Palestinian delegation could not participate due to the ongoing war situation.

• To learn more about the situation in Djénine: Support for Women in Djénine and Support for Women and Children in Djénine

The week began with a working session between the Comorian delegation and the team of the International Observatory on Violence against Women. Myriam Abadallah, the program coordinator in the Comoros, presented the work carried out by the Ngazidja Observatory throughout the year 2023. She shared the highlights of the year, including training for professionals and an awareness campaign against forced and early marriages. Yasmina Dada presented data from the listening service and shared the challenges faced by ASCOBEF in providing medical care to women victims of violence.

The week’s program also included field visits, offering the Comorian delegation the opportunity to further exchange with professionals in the department. This included a visit to the “Mon Palier” shelter at the Maison des Femmes, focusing on the reception and support of young women victims of violence, with the participation of Amandine Maraval, director of the LAO Pow’Her day reception and orientation center.

A working session followed to reflect on how to adapt what was seen at the shelter to the realities of the Comoros.

Participants also met with trainers from the National Center for Training of the National Police Force. Procedures for interviewing minor victims of violence were presented. Discussions with police trainers on the interview of minor victims in cases of sexual violence connected with the past intervention of gendarme Sophie Merle in the Comoros, particularly in the opening of the Mélanie room, a specific room for the hearing of minors. In the afternoon, Ernestine Ronai, Head of the Observatory of Violence against Women in Seine-Saint-Denis, presented the work of the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence against Children (CIIVISE), of which she is a member.

Finally, the Comorian delegation had the opportunity to visually inspect the awareness tools acquired by Comorian trainees during their “Young People Against Sexism” training in September 2023. A visit to the Ronsard school was organized to observe awareness sessions. During this immersion in the theater-forum workshops led by the Féminismes Enjeux troupe, work avenues were identified in collaboration with Comorian trainees who participated in the training. The afternoon continued with a visit to the Departmental Maternal and Child Protection Center (PMI) and Family Planning (PF), where Dr. Emmanuelle Piet presented the tools in place to identify women victims of violence.

19th Meetings of Women from Around the World

The 19th Meeting of Women in Seine-Saint-Denis was dedicated to “Femicides: Not One More.” The guest of honor, Yadira Cortés Castillo, discussed the situation of women in Ciudad Juarez, highlighting progress, including the creation of a center specialized in violence against women in Ciudad Juarez. Myriam Abdallah Ali and Yasmina Dada participated in the event as observers. Myriam Abdallah Ali shared:

It is also important to note that the audience expressed solidarity with our Palestinian partners from the Observatory of Violence against Women in Djénine.

Finally, this week concluded with the Steering Committee meeting of the international program “Territories Protecting Women Victims of Violence” – attended by representatives from Ngazidja, including Myriam Abdallah, Yasmina Dada, and Governor Sitti Farouata Mhoudine (via video conference). In addition, our Palestinian partners Mayssoun Dawood, Lina Zuher, and the mayor of Djénine (via video conference due to the war context), and Amanda Fletty and Benedetta Coso from the Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy, and Human Rights Commission of UCLG (CISDPH). Finally, representatives from the Department of Seine-Saint-Denis with members of OIVF, Ernestine Ronai, Amélie Videau, Maira Topall, and Maéva Bonnet, and the teams of the Europe International Direction (DEI) led by director Charlotte Lepri. Elected official Pascale Labbée expressed appreciation for the steering committee. Representatives from the involved territories shared the results of the second year of the program, discussed progress, and talked about prospects for 2024. Despite challenges, the positive impact of the actions undertaken was emphasized, especially on the shelter in Djénine and awareness-raising actions carried out in the Comoros, strengthening the common determination to promote tools and measures to combat violence against women at the local level.