Nantes the university signed an agreement to make it easier to report sexual harassment

Le Figaro Nantes

“Contribute to the care of students, students, University of Nantes and CROUS staff who have been victims of sexual or gender-based violence” This was the aim of the conference presented by the President of the University of Nantes, Carin Bernaud, on Thursday, November 24, 2022, before an audience of students and staff. This document, signed by the Prosecutor’s Office, the Gendarmerie, the Police, the Prefecture, the Crous and the France Victims 44 Nantes Association, should facilitate the reporting and the case of situations of sexism, harassment or sexual harassment..

“ As soon as there is a discovery, it is necessary to start the preliminary investigation in a hurry, and then to accuseNantes Prosecutor Renaud Godol emphasized, welcoming the long-term initiative. When the first conferences against sexist violence are held in the city, “You wanted to make this topic timely, making this topic not just a November 25 concern [Journée internationale de lutte contre les violences faites aux femmes, ndlr]not only for the month of November, but also for 365 days of the year.”

Raising awareness and supporting victims

Regarding assistance to victims, Renaud Godol recalled the provision of telephones in case of serious danger, which allows the victim to call the emergency services immediately. The Nantes prosecutor’s office has distributed 59 cases since the beginning of the year. Two years ago it was only 16, and last year it was 31 “. Also of great interest are anti-reconciliation bracelets that geographically locate the victim and the perpetrator of violence; The Nantes prosecutor’s office is the third prosecutor’s office in France in terms of the number of bracelets issued for the victims. “.

Laurent Le Gentil, second-in-command of the gendarmerie district, for his part insisted on the context surrounding the attacks. “I think about festive contexts, alcoholism, drug use. I invite you to be vigilant about your friends. This is where the difficulties arise– he warned. Emphasizing that ” Drinking alcohol cannot be an excuse for an aggressor. Never. The victim who used alcohol does not agree. This should in no way prevent him from approaching the ministry. He will be escorted “.

“I agree with General Le Gentil. beware of all kinds of extravagances on festive midnights. Consent is essential in such cases. Sometimes it’s not clear. You have to be alert when you go out – added Nicolas Jollibois, director of the public security department, referring to the presence of reference police officers in the faculties to raise awareness on these topics.

Questionnaire sent to Nantes students

“ This agreement fulfills the expectations of young women who continue their education in peace. A recent survey conducted by the Center for the Observation of Sexual Violence Students has recorded quite severe statistics. One in 10 students said they had been sexually harassed at least once, and one in 20 had been raped during higher education, which is extremely worrying.“, in turn, commented Francois Drape, Director of the Loire-Atlantique Prefect’s Cabinet.

In early 2023, an anonymous questionnaire will be sent to Nantes students to find out if they themselves have been victims of sexual violence. “ Distributing this questionnaire can produce results that will turn us upside down. “, President Karine Berno expects. The signing of the agreement is thus a way of predicting the results of this future research.