Lawmakers have taken a major step in combating violence against women and children by passing a bill that includes coercive control as a new criminal offense, punishable by up to three years in prison and fines of 45,000 euros. Coercive control, a concept linked to domestic abuse, involves behaviors designed to manipulate and isolate victims. A high-profile legal case highlights the complexities of coercive control claims, emphasizing the urgent need for effective legislation to protect victims and prevent future tragedies.
New Legislation Against Violence Towards Women and Children
On Tuesday, January 28, lawmakers took a significant step forward by passing a bill in its initial reading aimed at bolstering measures against violence directed at women and children. This legislation introduces the critical concept of coercive control, establishing a new criminal offense that can lead to a prison sentence of up to three years and fines reaching 45,000 euros for offenders.
Understanding Coercive Control
Coercive control, a term first theorized during the Korean War in the 1950s, has found a place in contemporary discussions about domestic violence, particularly through the work of American sociologist Evan Stark. The definition provided by the organization Women For Women describes coercive control as “a deliberate act or a series of behaviors designed to exert control, constraint, or intimidation over an individual, often an intimate partner or ex-partner, with the intention of fostering dependency, subordination, and deprivation of autonomy.”
Psychologist and psychotherapist Anna Motz, in her contributions to Psychology Today, highlights that the methods of coercive control can be subtle yet damaging, often making the victim feel solely responsible for their partner’s emotional state. This form of abuse can manifest through threats of self-harm or violence, as well as intimidation directed at loved ones, including children. Psychological manipulation often accompanies oppressive behaviors, impacting choices around clothing and limiting social interactions. Financial and domestic domination are also common tactics employed by abusers.
The ultimate aim of these abusive strategies is to isolate the victim, rendering her completely dependent on the abuser, and trapping her in a vicious cycle of control and helplessness. As journalist Laurène Daycard notes, Evan Stark likens this situation to a hostage scenario, where the abusive partner confines the victim for extended periods, often years, within invisible barriers. The risks escalate dramatically when victims attempt to leave, underscoring the crucial need for legislation that addresses coercive control to safeguard women and enhance our understanding of domestic dynamics, ultimately preventing potential tragedies. Feminist organizations assert that many femicides can be traced back to the roots of coercive control.
Legal Implications of Coercive Control Cases
The definition of coercive control has gained prominence in a high-profile legal case involving the rapper Nekfeu and his ex-wife, as both parties accuse each other of coercive control. In a detailed report by Le Monde, the ex-partner alleges that she endured “multiform violence,” encompassing psychological, physical, and sexual abuse. She recounts how her ex had control over her clothing choices, makeup, social outings, professional engagements, and even her interactions with men, claiming, “I had no soul, no life, no personality. I was vampirized, dispossessed of my identity.”
Nekfeu, on the other hand, asserts that it was she who exercised coercive control over him, isolating him from friends and family for a year. He describes their relationship as “very immature” and expresses that it has left him traumatized, contributing to a hiatus from releasing music for over five years. As the legal framework around coercive control continues to develop, the ex-wife’s attorney plans to draw upon existing case law, especially following a landmark decision in January 2024 by the Poitiers Court of Appeal, which recognized coercive control in five separate rulings.