France/Morbihan Gendarmerie Group and Soroptimist International join forces to improve reception of victims

The result of a partnership initiated a year ago between the Morbihan Gendarmerie Group and the Soroptimist International association of Vannes, a hearing room for women and minors who are victims of violence, within the premises of the Family Protection Unit in Pontivy, was inaugurated this Friday, November 25, the national day against violence against women. Other facilities will be opened in the coming weeks in Muzillac and Auray.

In December 2021, Claire Hautin, president of the Soroptimist International association in Vannes, pushed open the door of the Morbihan Family Protection Center (MPF) with the aim of proposing a partnership to set up premises adapted to hearings of women, minors and vulnerable victims of violence.

The approach was well received, as the national gendarmerie had been exploring ways to better welcome and support these victims, who are too often reluctant to go to a police station. We had a common interest in the prevention and protection of victims," confirms Lieutenant-Colonel (LCL) Patrice Lagadec, deputy prevention/partnership officer to the commander of the Morbihan GGD. The project was quickly validated and the work between the Soroptimist International Vannes association and the MPF was able to begin. "

We would never have continued if we hadn't had people in front of us who took ownership of it, who took things in stride," adds Claire Hautin. A partnership is the meeting of two wills, and we felt that the gendarmes had a real desire to get involved with us.

The project is led by Chief Warrant Officer Marie-Hélène Ledain, who commands the MPF, and Claudine Haverbeke, in charge of this partnership for the association. A message is being sent to all companies to find out which units are interested.

"A real synergy

In March 2022, during the Talents des femmes show organized by the association, which brings together more than 80 craftswomen and professionals, the project is officially presented, and all profits from the event are donated to the association.All profits from the event were donated to purchase the furniture and decoration for the future hearing rooms. The gendarmes had precise and relevant expectations," explains Claudine Haverbeke. We went shopping together, chose the furniture, curtains, parquet floors, paintings... We worked in true synergy. "

" In particular, we wanted a glass table that would allow us to see the action of the hands and legs, which play an important role in non-verbal communication," says the MPF commander. These facilities allow us to offer a pleasant and comfortable place to hear, but with a concrete objective: the liberation of speech. "

The example of the carabinieri

On October 10, this collaborative work was formalized by the signing of an agreement between Claire Hautin and Colonel Aurélien Ardillier, commander of the Morbihan GGD. This innovative partnership is a national first, " says Colonel Lagadec. We are very proud of it and we would like to thank the members of Soroptimist International Vannes. "

The funds raised were allocated in particular to the creation of two hearing rooms (one of which is dedicated to recorded hearings) at The funds raised have been allocated to the creation of two hearing rooms (one of which is dedicated to recorded hearings) at the Family Protection Unit (CPF) in Pontivy, which were inaugurated on Friday 25 November, the national day against violence against women, and a room at the Muzillac brigade. Work is also planned in the near future for the development of the complaint filing area and the hearing room for adult victims at the Auray brigade.

"Following the example of Italy, where a similar project with the carabinieri of northern Italy has taken on a national dimension, with the creation of more than 200 rooms, including the police station. ation of more than 200 rooms, we hope that this project will develop, first in Morbihan, then in all of Brittany, and then in all of France," concludes Claudine Haverbeke. We have already received requests from gendarmerie units in the North and in the Bas-Rhin. "

Source: www.gendinfo.fr