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France and Réunion: Protection provided by the authorities in Réunion for a woman fearing violence from her ex-husband (2003-May 2005)

Little information was found on protection provided by the authorities in Réunion for a woman fearing violence from her ex-husband.

However, the First Secretary of the Embassy of France in Ottawa stated that Réunion is one of four overseas departments (along with Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana) where French laws apply (27 May 2005), and that, for example, a woman fearing violence from her ex-husband can [translation] "complain to the police if she is threatened with violence" (27 May 2005).

Témoignages, a Réunion daily, featured an article on a Réunion departmental meeting held on 31 March 2005 with respect to domestic violence (1 Apr. 2005). The president of the General Council of Réunion pointed out that, in the preceding two months, of the 556 calls to a social emergency phone line, 60 per cent were related to domestic or family violence (Témoignages 1 Apr. 2005). An action plan against domestic violence was developed during the meeting and the following measures were agreed on: regrouping different social actors around the emergency phone line (which was set to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as of June 2005); adding four apartments to the already existing two houses provided by the General Council for victims of domestic violence; creating a special and permanent unit within the police ("gendarmerie"); applying legal measures permitting the eviction of an aggressor from the family home; and the developing of an education and communication program directed at the general public (ibid.).

An article from Lutte ouvrière – Île de la Réunion, a monthly magazine, stated that 15 per cent of women are victims of domestic violence in Réunion compared with 9 per cent in France (Nov. 2004).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Embassy of France, Ottawa. 27 May 2005. Correspondence from the First Secretary.

Lutte ouvrière – Île de la Réunion. November 2004. "Non aux violences contre les femmes!" <http://www.lutte-ouvriere-ile-de-la-reunion.org/mens/p5.htm> [Accessed 1 June 2005]

Témoignages.re [La Réunion]. 1 April 2005. "Violences contre les femmes : un mal profond." <http://www.temoignages.re/article.php3?id_article=8263> [Accessed 31 May 2005]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: The Réunion delegation of the Ministry of Parity and Professional Equality of France and the French Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction did not provide information within the time constraints of this Response.

Internet sites, including: Clicanoo – Le Journal de l'Île, Ministry of Parity and Professional Equality of France, Telemag.re [La Réunion], WNC.