“Shock” photos of women: faces swollen, physically assaulted and sexually… These are the pictures exhibited in the heart of the court of Draguignan in the Var, until March 8. A temporary and traveling exhibition produced by the collective Words and evils of womento make as many people as possible aware of intra-family violence, both physical and psychological.
“This is an opportunity to reach an additional audience, the public concerned and other people who come as part of other audiences”, explains Coralie Guillermoua lawyer specializing in domestic violence.
This taboo subject, brought to light thanks to these photos, makes it possible to sensitize witnesses to recognize the signs of this violence and help the victims. But these shots also make it possible to act directly with the victims, by acting as a “mirror effect” with the latter.
The objective is to make them aware of their situation and encourage them to get out of it. “Between the idea that it won’t start again, the promises, the steps… At some point, women have to say to themselves: what I’m promised if I leave this person, it won’t be worse than what I’m going through now. So it has to stop”, explains Natalie feverpresident of the judicial court of Draguignan.
Domestic violence remains a hot topic. In 2021, 1,348 such cases were reported to the Draguignan court, 9% more than in 2020. At the national level, 113 women were killed by their spouse or ex-spouse last year, according to the collective All of us.
The exhibition Evils and women’s words keep on going its route throughout France, in total the exhibition will stop in 500 cities. The next step will be the Overseas territories at the beginning of March: Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion…