At the Hôtel de Matignon

Event on October 10, 2023

Received by Vanessa PERREE, Division Head and Justice Advisor, and Colonel Guillaume POUMEAU de LAFOREST, Gendarmerie Advisor.

An overview of our organization, as well as our project developed in collaboration with local stakeholders, law enforcement, specialized healthcare and legal professionals, and several judges.

An hour and a half of constructive discussion, with both sides listening and paying attention to one another.

We were able to discuss several key topics:

• Victim Assistance

Optimal protection for victims requires prompt and straightforward information. We will receive feedback on our proposal for a booklet, which has already been approved in principle by the Department of Justice.

Request to amend an Article R of the Code of Criminal Procedure that would allow the initial information necessary for victims to quickly obtain provisional relief to be communicated directly to them. Our arguments were heard and understood; we will now see how this can be implemented.

While victims must be provided with quick and straightforward information, information must also be made available to law enforcement agencies, among others. A draft circular has been mentioned.

We have highlighted certain actors—predators—including claims agencies and certain organizations, not to mention some lawyers. The message has gotten through, particularly regarding claims agencies. On this point, efforts to better protect victims will begin, especially since, as a reminder, this is an illegal activity. A non-exhaustive list of these agencies has been provided.

The role of insurers was, of course, discussed, and we did not fail to point out the delaying tactics employed by some of them. The discussion focused on the duty to provide advice.

We also brought to the government’s attention Article 39 of the 2024 Social Security Financing Bill and the amendment to Article L.434-2 of the Social Security Code, which, if passed as is, would be detrimental to victims of work-related accidents and occupational diseases in the wake of a ruling by the Court of Cassation that had actually improved compensation for victims.

• Traffic homicide

Following the announcements, statements, and reports made by certain parties, we received direct reassurance from the Ministry of Justice. The Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed this.

Elisabeth Borne and the government remain committed to this goal and will address the expectations and requests of the #collectifjusticepourlesvictimesdelaroute association, which is behind this call for change.

As part of this upcoming bill, we have submitted our three proposed amendments.

The first one, which concerned a proposed deadline, will be considered in a different context. We have heard and, more importantly, understood the council members’ arguments.

The second point concerns civil parties in the event of an appeal, and we may be able to count on the government’s support on this issue.

The third point cannot be addressed through legislation; a draft circular will be submitted to the Minister of Justice. This concerns sentencing judges.

•  Road Safety

We emphasized the importance of improved prevention, as well as the importance of the role and relevance of organizations in the various training programs.

Many training programs require the presence of a driving instructor or a psychologist, even though there is already a severe shortage of these professionals.

These organizations have proven their worth and are fully capable of carrying out a wide range of activities under the supervision of the prefectures to ensure the quality of the training programs.

Information was also provided on the importance of insurance, coverage, and how the policy works. This could be a short-term initiative that would complement a future government program.

In conclusion, the meeting was positive overall, and we look forward to follow-up discussions so that we can take concrete steps.