support
rights
I have witnessed violence: what can I do?
One day you may witness violence first hand: shouting in a neighboring house, insults or punch in your presence, etc.
- If the victim is in serious and immediate danger, call 17
- If the victim is injured, call 15 (paramedics) or take them to a doctor (at the emergency room or in a doctor’s office) to have the injuries recorded
- You can fill in a certificate to report what you saw or heard. This handwritten certificate, provided with identification, is valuable evidence if the victim decides to take legal action.
Model of a cerfa certificate: form n°11527*02
If you suspect violence without having witnessed it directly, alert the police, the social service of your town hall or a local victim support association.
How can you support a woman who is a victim of violence?
If one day, one of your relatives tells you that she is a victim of violence, you should know that you will have a very important role to play: you will have to listen to her, reassure her, guide her and perhaps testify. If you do not know what to say or how to act, some simple reflexes can make a difference
To sum up…
Violence is not a private matter. If you suspect, hear or see violence: report it immediately.
Life may be at stake: the fear of being wrong, disturbing or putting oneself in danger (reprisals) should not prevent you from alerting.
Your testimony is important evidence in a court case. You can write an attestation (handwritten and with identification):
Listen
The first thing to do is to listen to the victim. Let her express herself without giving any advice, being judgemental or trying to assess the situation. It is essential to be sympathetic: you allow the victim to feel confident about breaking the secret. Questioning, criticizing or blaming can push the victim back into silence. For example, criticizing an abusive partner may make them feel guilty for having “chosen the wrong partner”.
Try to keep an open mind and value the victim, her courage and the actions she has already taken.
Expressing support and willingness to help
Victims of domestic violence often feel guilty. Try to reassure them with simple sentences: “I believe you”, “it’s not your fault”, “it doesn’t matter what you did or didn’t do. No one has the right to be violent with you.”
On the other hand, don’t be tempted to take action in her name. In an abusive relationship, the victim already feels out of control. If she refuses your help or returns to her abusive partner, do not be offended and continue to support her.
Guiding and assisting them
The second important step is to guide her while respecting her choices. You can support her in filling a complaint, keep copies of evidence, get information from professionals on how to help, etc.
You can find advice and information on the rights for women victims on our page:
Hand over the responsibility
Every situation is different and in some cases, you may feel overwhelmed. Do not hesitate to call the domestic violence helplines for specific and appropriate advice. You can contact them yourself or refer them to the victim.
You can find the association’s contact details, emergency numbers, helplines and legal information on our page:
How can you help us?
Talking to others, raising awareness about this kind of issue, visiting dedicated websites to get more information are the best ways to help.
You can also get involved with us, or help us financially on a one-time or regular basis.
