THE CHALLENGE

Although the past few decades have yielded some progress in the push to reduce violence against women, the phenomenon remains widespread throughout the world. Violence against women permeates all borders and occurs at every level of society. It is the most widespread human rights violation. Globally, one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence during her lifetime. In France alone, 122 women were murdered by their partner or ex-partner last year. 

Gender-based violence causes unimaginable pain, both physical and psychological, for the victims and their families. In addition, it imposes a major economic burden on society, especially in terms of social subsidies, healthcare costs, and lost employee productivity. In France, it is estimated that violence against women costs the country 3.6 billion euros per year. 

Ghada Hatem is the head of the maternity ward at the Hôpital Delafontaine in Seine-Saint-Denis. After working on the maternity ward for several years, she conducted an investigation into the prevalence of violence suffered by the women giving birth at the hospital. She found that 14% of the women had been subjected to FGM (female genital mutilation) and estimated that each victim of gender-based violence loses 1-4 years of good health. 

Faced with a lack of adequate funding and the absence of holistic and lasting solutions to the problem of violence against women, Ghada Hatem created a Women’s House to help survivors of gender-based violence in Seine-Saint-Denis. 

The SOLUTIONS WE'RE PROPOSING

The Women’s House provides a unique space, creating a link between the municipality and the hospital and promoting synergy between existing institutions. It gives survivors of gender-based violence a place to take refuge and seek counseling. Women have access to family-planning services and other services specifically adapted to victims of violence, including a team specialized in treating victims of FGM. 

Round-the-clock, comprehensive support is provided by a multi-disciplinary and highly qualified team of healthcare professionals. After an initial interview to assess each woman’s individual needs and the urgency of her situation, the patient meets with a psychologist, social worker, doctor or surgeon (in cases of FGM), depending on her needs. The women also have access to a network of specialized legal professionals if necessary. In addition, discussion groups on FGM, confidence-building workshops, osteopathy sessions, relaxation sessions, and literacy classes are offered.

The Women’s House also aims to train healthcare professionals to recognize cases of gender-based violence in order to raise awareness about the issue and ensure that medical professionals are equipped to provide adequate solutions.

Importantly, W4’s field partner provides schools with awareness-raising workshops in order to further raise awareness and promote a change in mentalities and behaviors within the community. 

THE IMPACT OF GIVING

By contributing to this project, you are helping the Women’s House to provide survivors of gender-based violence with thoroughly comprehensive and individualized care. Our patients have access to a team of qualified professionals to help them overcome any medical, legal or administrative obstacles that may have prevented them from receiving the support and treatment they need. 

Thanks to your generosity, survivors of gender-based violence will be able to break the cycle of violence that has plagued their lives for many years, heal their physical and psychological wounds, and regain their self-confidence. 

The Women’s House in Seine-Saint-Denis was inaugurated in July 2016. Now we need to ensure that we can continue to meet our operating costs in the long term and also create new services for our patients (projects to create a garden and small kitchen are underway). We aim to finance salaries for new healthcare staff, including a social worker, to improve the services we offer our patients. We also aim to offer photography and cosmetics workshops to help the women build their self-confidence.  

The Women’s House is the first center of its kind in France to offer an innovative and comprehensive solution for survivors of gender-based violence. Your donation will give victims of violence a place of refuge where they can receive care and have a chance to rebuild their lives, creating a better future and living free from violence.