Ghada Hatem, one who repairs women victims of violence

The Obstetrician gynecologist has created the House of Women in Saint-Denis in 2016. Since then, dozens of other structures have emerged, thanks to its feminist fight to better treat women victims of violence.

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Ghada Hatem is on all fronts. On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Thursday, November 25, the one that founded the House of Women in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), in 2016, continues His fight to better take care of the victims of physical, sexual, psychic violence. Since its opening, the House of Women has welcomed nearly 20,000 of them in consultation, whether beaten, excised, faced with unwanted pregnancies …

This is the first structure in France to propose a global care combining medical care and psychosocial accompaniment. Ghada Hatem leads a team of thirty employees – doctors, midwives, psychologists, nurses, but also social assistants, police, lawyers, a dozen external speakers – and a hundred volunteers who animate speaking groups and workshops (theater, karate …), a unique care offer. This teamwork takes all its meaning here. And for many, the engine, “it’s Ghada”. Despite a very busy schedule, the lioness’s hair, light blue eyes, listens and receives with a smile, and a lot of humor.

Nestled in the city of Saint-Denis, next to Delafontaine Hospital, the place is warm, multicolored, gay – a rampart facing distress. On each door of the consultation rooms, Portraits signed Paul Wardé pay tribute to the heroines of the struggle for women’s rights. Only man with cited right among these portraits, Lucien Neuwirth, the member who has voted the law legalizing the pill in 1967.

A huge demand

Since, the model has swarm. In total, there are some twenty structures. That of Marseille (backed by AP-HM) should open in December, that of Bichat (AP-HP) in a few days, that of pity and salpêtriere (AP-HP) has just been inaugurated, not counting Tours, Rennes, Bourg-en-Bresse and many others … The demand is immense, France and abroad. Which is very timely for the pioneer team.

Violence against women and girls increased during confines related to the CVIV-19 pandemic. And the reports are still increasing. “One can not say that men are more violent, but we know that precariousness and social difficulties are cofactors of violence,” worries Ghada Hatem. Despite this, “the number of victims who go to the filing of complaint remains very insufficient, of the order of 25%,” she regrets. To facilitate this approach, police, trained and volunteers, are present every week at the House of Women. Within this structure, it is planned to open “as soon as possible” a small medicojudicial unit dedicated to women victims of sexual violence, accessible 24 hours a day.

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/Media reports.