Prioritizing Feminicide Prevention in Reunion Island: Implications for the Justice System's Operations and Strategies

• In Event: Professional performance and other institutional components of policy implementation

Abstract

Since the mid-2010s, policies to combat DV in France have focused on the concern of preventing incidents culminating in victim fatalities. This approach catalyzed a procedural mandate: each instance of a woman's death is to initiate a rigorous feedback mechanism, essentially an audit coordinated by local judicial authorities designed to review and assess the interventions of the various policy stakeholders involved prior to the tragic outcome.
Drawing upon an empirical investigation conducted in Reunion Island, our contribution aims to elucidate the nuanced ramifications of enhancing accountability among those tasked with victim protection and oversight. This increased accountability exerts a dichotomous influence on public measures and the professional dynamics of those engaged in this domain. On one dimension, it has precipitated enhancements in victim support services. Conversely, the apprehension surrounding potential blame for systemic failures has engendered work-related stress, susceptibility to burnout, adoption of tactics aimed at deflecting responsibility, and erosion of trust and cooperative synergy within professional networks.
Particular attention is bestowed upon the repercussions of this accountability pressure on judicial personnel. We observe an augmented reliance on socio-psychological evaluations of both perpetrators and victims to preempt future incidents, the intensification of precautionary measures within pre-trial procedures, the establishment of specialized processes and divisions within courts, the nomination of designated coordinators to ensure meticulous case oversight, and a pronounced inclination to prioritize victim protection, sometimes at the expense of their autonomy or overall well-being.
Our contribution is based on a qualitative study comprising 90 interviews with a diverse array of stakeholders involved in DV victim support— LEA officers, members of the judiciary and NGO representatives— conducted from 2019 to 2024 in Reunion Island. This investigation forms a component of the European Horizon IMPROVE project (2023-2025), conducted in partnership with the Centre for Legal Research of the University of Reunion Island.

Authors

• Thierry Delpeuch, CNRS UGA PACTE

• Cathy Pomart, University of Reunion Island