PRESS RELEASE

Apr-18 2024

Thematic public report

POLICIES TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

IN NEW CALEDONIA AND FRENCH POLYNESIA

In September 2023, in a report on the State's gender equality policy, the Court of Accounts

concluded that only limited progress had been made in this area. In French Polynesia and

New Caledonia, where domestic violence is more prevalent than in public spaces, the

situation is worse than in most other French territories. Local governments have only

recently become aware of the scale of the resources needed to combat this violence and

provide better care for victims. The progress expected in this area requires a stronger

partnership within local authorities, so that the public policies involved in this fight are

consistent. This report is a summary of the work carried out by the territorial chamber of

accounts of New Caledonia and French Polynesia. These checks have enabled us to

understand the phenomenon in these areas and to assess the public policies in place.

A legal framework and definition of violence against women

Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, the Declaration on the Elimination

of Violence against Women defines violence against women as "any act of gender-based

violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to

women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty". Under

French law, when violence against women is proven, it falls under the heading of delinquency.

These offences are subject to criminal prosecution. The repressive aspect and the follow-up of

the perpetrators are the responsibility of the State. Providing care for victims falls within the

scope of health and social services, which are the responsibility of local authorities in New

Caledonia (government and provinces) and French Polynesia (government). The study of this

phenomenon, which includes keeping statistics, is shared between the State (police,

gendarmerie, justice) and local authorities (social services, public health, social security system,

employment, etc.) in partnership with associations.

Similar concerns about violence in the two territories

The statistics produced for each region are recent. They reflect a belated awareness on the part

of local public authorities, even though voluntary sector have been involved for a long time.

The available data shows that the situation in these two territories is particularly bad: women

in French Polynesia and New Caledonia are more victims of violence than elsewhere in France.

According to a report published in 2017 by the French National Economic, Social and

Environmental Council (CESE), the rate of women who have been physically assaulted by their