In France, one in 10 women is a victim of domestic violence. A figure that beggars belief and yet is impossible to ignore. Domestic violence affects all groups in society, in the secret intimacy of households. One woman every 2.5 days is killed as a result.
For many women, with or without children, who want to leave their home and find a place of safety, it is vital that they can be sheltered by dedicated centres and be accompanied by professionals in order to find the right solutions for them. This type of care is provided by a number of associations. Among them, the Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes (FNSF) is a grouping of 65 grass-roots level associations, which monitors over 30,000 women who fall prey to domestic violence in France. 3,000 of these are then sheltered in emergency or medium-term accommodation. Recognised by the public authorities, the network also runs the national counselling, information and guidance hotline (Violence Conjugales Info - 3919), a service which in 2009 handled over 33,000 calls. The FNSF also provides training to associations within its network and other social entities and prevention training for young people.

Since its creation in 2009, the PPR Corporate Foundation for Women’s’ Dignity and Rights, which fights violence against women and supports women’s empowerment, has sought to play a accompanying role for women who are victims of domestic violence, through the formation of a robust partnership with the FNSF. First of all, the Foundation financed the implementation of a mobile unit tasked with attending to victims of domestic violence in the Hospitals of Montpellier. Since March 2009, the Foundation has also supported the FNSF training and monitoring service.
In the spring of this year, an auction of the work of David Lynch was organised by Galeries Lafayette, in support of the initiatives led by PPR Foundation. The funds collected enabled 6 FNSF member associations to improve their capacity for the accompaniment and housing of the women whom they shelter.

To consolidate their partnership, PPR Group, PPR Foundation and FNSF signed a Charter for the Prevention and Fighting of Domestic Violence this autumn, through which the PPR Group and its brands pledged to inform, raise awareness among and mobilise its 30,500 employees in France on the subject of domestic violence. Why this commitment now? Although domestic violence takes place in the private sphere, PPR wishes to focus particular attention on the overall well-being of its employees. Domestic violence can have an impact on the professional life of its victims. It was for this reason that the Group sought to sign this Charter. A letter from François Henri-Pinault and the President of each brand was sent to each of the 30,500 employees in France. The letter outlined the commitment of PPR and the role of FNSF and introduced the 3919 Hotline. In 2011, the FNSF is also proposing to raise awareness among “key” individuals within Human Resources, social and medical departments so that they can guide concerned employees towards FNSF associations.
As the second French Group to sign up, PPR hopes that it will soon be followed by other stakeholders in the economy in the fight against domestic violence.