It is in the very heart of the Dracénie hospital center that this new structure has opened. Carried out, among others, by the Regional Health Agency and the association La Voix de l’Enfant, it should make it possible to provide better care for child victims of domestic violence.
It is a first in the Var, and even in the entire Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur region. A pediatric reception unit for children in danger (UAPED) has just been created in a wing of the Dracénie hospital center in Draguignan.
Stated objective: better care for child victims of violence.
In concrete terms, there are two rooms, specially decorated and furnished to put children at ease. Colorful paintings and furniture, colored pencils and drawing tables, lots of stuffed animals…and even a huge teddy bear. “The goal is to have a place of benevolent listening” Explain Caroline Chassin, director of the hospital.
“Everything is done so that children can confide more easily“, explains Dr. Pauline Vignoles, head of the Women-Mother-Child unit at the Draguignan hospital.
One of the two rooms is equipped with one-way glass and a video device, which will digitally record the testimony of the child and his relatives. And above all, to prevent him from having to repeat to several professionals (police or gendarmerie investigators, doctors, gynecologists, psychologists, etc.) the facts he has suffered.
It can be physical, sexual or psychological violence, and sometimes all three at the same time.
“The idea is to bring together the various stakeholders in a single place, also trying to coordinate them on a single day, so that after the hearing, a medical examination of the child can be done. And so that we can also provide psychological support for the child and the family“, explains Dr. Pauline Vignoles, head of the Women’s Mother and Child unit at the hospital, who fought to obtain this structure.
Scheduled for 2020, the birth of this UAPED had to be postponed due to COVID-19, which had a lasting effect on the hospital and weakened its emergency department, currently closed at night since October 2021.
But today, all the professionals are delighted to see it finally operational.
“VSe these children are going through is already so hard that we absolutely wanted to avoid making them repeat their suffering a thousand times, which rekindles the pain each time. From this point of view, this structure is a real step forward”explains Lauren Pizzio, lawyer and representative of the association La Voix de l’enfant.
At the same time, a partnership was signed between the hospital center and the Draguignan public prosecutor’s office. The objective is to make this structure available to justice and investigators from the police or the gendarmerie of the Var.
“On judicial requisition, the room is made available, and can be used at any time of the day or night. It is accessible 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. In addition, on the report of health professionals, we can also mobilize and use this unit“, explains Caroline Chassin, the director of the Dracénie Hospital Center.
The association The voice of the child, too, is delighted with this structure, which was lacking in the Var. Currently, only the gendarmerie had a place specially equipped for the hearing of minors who are victims of violence, a room called “Mélanie”, located in the west of the department.
“The fate of child victims was complicated, especially in the Var department. Due to the topography, families had to file a complaint in one place and then had to go see a doctor in another place. This generated very many kilometres, and this sometimes discouraged families. With sometimes the consequence of abandonment of procedure. From now on, we hope that this will no longer be the case.s”, rejoices Lauren Pizzio, representative of The Voice of the Child.
The 1st UAPED was created in 1998 in Béziers. Since then, the association has been fighting to multiply this kind of structure in the region. “It is the 73rd to see the light of day in France, but the first in the Var, and even in PACA! We are quite behind in this area, especially compared to other regions such as the west or the north-east of the country.“, assures Ms. Pizzio.
Fortunately, the movement seems launched. Other similar structures should soon open in Marseilles for example.