Soon a specialized court for the treatment of domestic violence?

Spain is often cited as an example by feminist activists engaged in the fight against gender-based and sexual violence. Has a step in this direction just been taken?

A bill by the Les Républicains group and carried by the LR party’s presidential candidate Aurélien Pradié was voted in the National Assembly in the night between Thursday 1 and Friday 2 December. It aims to create a court specializing in domestic violence » :

“Specialized jurisdiction makes it possible to judge quickly, with greater firmness and to be kidnapped more easily by the victims. The effective deployment of the anti-conciliation bracelet in the preventive phase will be much wider if our country is endowed with this jurisdiction. The specialized court is the only effective and reliable response that can be provided to all victims, regardless of their social background, place of residence and environment. Far from the inoperative and deviated “listening cells” of all kinds. »

The opposition of the Renaissance to the creation of a specialized jurisdiction

The proposal, however, is not not unanimousas evidenced by the reaction of the Renaissance group, which qualifies it as “pretend good idea”according to the words of the deputy Sarah Tanzilli, “unfinished and written without consultation with professionals” according to the leader of the assembly group Aurore Bergé. Especially as remembered LCP extensiona parliamentary mission on the creation of a specialized court is expected to deliver its conclusions in spring 2023.

This disagreement on the process, and not on the subject of the text – since the need to fight intra-family violence is a consensus – caused a stir during the discussions in session. Noting the attempts to slow down the examination of the text by the majority, the groups Les Républicains, the National Gathering, the Ecologists and La France Insoumise each withdrew their amendments to speed up the process and lead to a vote, which was particularly tight, 41 votes in favor and 40 against.

During the announcements of November 25, the day for the fight against sexist and sexual violence, Isabelle Rome, like Emmanuel Macron, insisted on the choice to favor the creation of poles specialized and not of a specialized court.

After its adoption at first reading, the text will most likely be revised during its consideration in the Senate.

Photo credit: LCP (capture)