Combating domestic violence:
"I want it to happen!"
Quebec wants to tighten security around victims of domestic violence in order to prevent violent crimes like those that have occurred in recent months. Funding for shelters will be increased and other measures are being considered, such as the imposition of an “anti-bridging” electronic bracelet and mandatory reporting by physicians.
"We need to move more," says the Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Isabelle Charest. “What was in our strategies, in the action plans. We have been in government for a year and a half. We must put this urgent, alarming priority back on the table, ”she said in an interview with La Presse .
Prime Minister François Legault entrusted Minister Charest with the mandate to coordinate an action plan against domestic violence, in the wake of the triple murder followed by a suicide in Pointe-aux-Trembles on December 10 and the cry of heart, in the days that followed,
of a woman who survived the assault of her ex-husband.
"I believe that with this Prime Minister's mandate, it legitimizes the action of the Secretariat for the Status of Women. It just gives me a free hand. "
For Isabelle Charest, everything is on the table to succeed in shielding the “security nucleus around women” in Quebec, her priority, she says.
Prime Minister François Legault entrusted Minister Charest with the mandate to coordinate an action plan against domestic violence, in the wake of the triple murder followed by a suicide in Pointe-aux-Trembles on December 10 and the cry of heart, in the days that followed,
of a woman who survived the assault of her ex-husband.
"I believe that with this Prime Minister's mandate, it legitimizes the action of the Secretariat for the Status of Women. It just gives me a free hand. "
For Isabelle Charest, everything is on the table to succeed in shielding the “security nucleus around women” in Quebec, her priority, she says.
In particular, it proposes to assess the possibility of making it compulsory for doctors to report suspected cases of domestic violence when a patient presents to the emergency room with injuries, for example.
"You need a mechanism to tell yourself: did it fall or did it eat a blow?" We have to see how we deploy this cell,
”she says.For the time being, doctors are bound by professional secrecy in this type of situation and cannot,
therefore, report the case themselves to the police authorities.
The Legault government's next budget will undoubtedly improve public funding for the network of shelters. The chronic underfunding of these establishments "places women and children at risk", recognized the National Assembly, last November.
"This is a request supported by all the departments," said Minister Charest. "We expect it to be there [in the budget]," she added, without wanting to quantify the requests. The Quebec Federation of Shelters has publicly called for a reinvestment of $ 50 million in the network.
”she says.For the time being, doctors are bound by professional secrecy in this type of situation and cannot,
therefore, report the case themselves to the police authorities.
The Legault government's next budget will undoubtedly improve public funding for the network of shelters. The chronic underfunding of these establishments "places women and children at risk", recognized the National Assembly, last November.
"This is a request supported by all the departments," said Minister Charest. "We expect it to be there [in the budget]," she added, without wanting to quantify the requests. The Quebec Federation of Shelters has publicly called for a reinvestment of $ 50 million in the network.
Speed up the process
Isabelle Charest wants to set foot on the accelerator. She is scheduled to meet with her counterparts on Friday across seven departments, including those of Health and Social Services, Justice, Education and Public Safety, to examine the options on the table.
"The resources will come from the ministries, but I want to bring the debates," she said.
She believes in particular that the possibility of imposing the wearing of electronic bracelets "anti-rapprochement" - as for a violent ex-spouse subject
to a court order not to come into contact with his victim (section 810 of the Criminal Code) - must be evaluated.
“It's interesting to analyze it. It is more up to Justice and Public Safety to see if it is applicable, but for me, it is definitely something to consider,
"she told La Presse . “I think that we cannot avoid means which could secure women. "
We want concrete actions that will bear fruit in the short term. That doesn't prevent us from being able to review laws at the same time.Isabelle Charest, Minister responsible for the Status of Women
She also believes in the relevance of developing an action plan that casts a wide net, because "if we only work on a clientele, we will miss the target".
“All of these recent cases are dramatic and have taken place in completely different contexts. It also illustrates how vast and complex the phenomenon is. It just goes to show that we have to act on all fronts to have the greatest effect, ”she explains.
Isabelle Charest wants to set foot on the accelerator. She is scheduled to meet with her counterparts on Friday across seven departments, including those of Health and Social Services, Justice, Education and Public Safety, to examine the options on the table.
"The resources will come from the ministries, but I want to bring the debates," she said.
She believes in particular that the possibility of imposing the wearing of electronic bracelets "anti-rapprochement" - as for a violent ex-spouse subject
to a court order not to come into contact with his victim (section 810 of the Criminal Code) - must be evaluated.
“It's interesting to analyze it. It is more up to Justice and Public Safety to see if it is applicable, but for me, it is definitely something to consider,
"she told La Presse . “I think that we cannot avoid means which could secure women. "
We want concrete actions that will bear fruit in the short term. That doesn't prevent us from being able to review laws at the same time.Isabelle Charest, Minister responsible for the Status of Women
She also believes in the relevance of developing an action plan that casts a wide net, because "if we only work on a clientele, we will miss the target".
“All of these recent cases are dramatic and have taken place in completely different contexts. It also illustrates how vast and complex the phenomenon is. It just goes to show that we have to act on all fronts to have the greatest effect, ”she explains.
Squad creation
Isabelle Charest admits, in the light of the latest tragedies, that women in Quebec are "obviously not perfectly protected" and believes that practices must be standardized to prevent victims from falling between the cracks of the system. It is necessary to establish “a collaboration mechanism”
on the ground which it compares to a “squad”.
"There are some in the regions, we are really talking about a kind of protection cell around women," she underlines, citing the example of Abitibi,
where local authorities work together. “We have to deploy this on a larger scale. "
According to her, "the model could come from the community", but Quebec could give a specific directive to build these networks.
And the solution undoubtedly requires better training for front-line workers, such as the police, teachers and health professionals, among others.
“We must give ourselves the means to have this consultation there […], manage to orchestrate this nucleus that links the shelters,
the DPJ, public security and the health sector. "
Isabelle Charest admits, in the light of the latest tragedies, that women in Quebec are "obviously not perfectly protected" and believes that practices must be standardized to prevent victims from falling between the cracks of the system. It is necessary to establish “a collaboration mechanism”
on the ground which it compares to a “squad”.
"There are some in the regions, we are really talking about a kind of protection cell around women," she underlines, citing the example of Abitibi,
where local authorities work together. “We have to deploy this on a larger scale. "
According to her, "the model could come from the community", but Quebec could give a specific directive to build these networks.
And the solution undoubtedly requires better training for front-line workers, such as the police, teachers and health professionals, among others.
“We must give ourselves the means to have this consultation there […], manage to orchestrate this nucleus that links the shelters,
the DPJ, public security and the health sector. "
Training and awareness
In the shorter term, Minister Charest wishes to increase training, but also public awareness of domestic violence.
A campaign to that effect must be launched somewhere in the spring.
“For many people, domestic violence is only physical, while it can be psychological, emotional, economic. There are different spheres where there
can be violence that is exercised, but there is always this common denominator of domination and that, you have to be able to recognize, ”she explains.
She also believes that it is everyone's responsibility. “We think that the conjugal or family sphere belongs to this core. It is up to everyone
to intervene in the same way as we would for a bullying case, for example. It is just as relevant for domestic violence. "
The previous government of Philippe Couillard had presented a 2018-2023 action plan against domestic violence.
Minister Charest maintains that this guide is still "entirely relevant" and that it will serve as the basis for her own work.
In the shorter term, Minister Charest wishes to increase training, but also public awareness of domestic violence.
A campaign to that effect must be launched somewhere in the spring.
“For many people, domestic violence is only physical, while it can be psychological, emotional, economic. There are different spheres where there
can be violence that is exercised, but there is always this common denominator of domination and that, you have to be able to recognize, ”she explains.
She also believes that it is everyone's responsibility. “We think that the conjugal or family sphere belongs to this core. It is up to everyone
to intervene in the same way as we would for a bullying case, for example. It is just as relevant for domestic violence. "
The previous government of Philippe Couillard had presented a 2018-2023 action plan against domestic violence.
Minister Charest maintains that this guide is still "entirely relevant" and that it will serve as the basis for her own work.