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Sabine and Michèle are chatting in the shade on the large terrace of the Territorial Collectivity’s hotel. Like about thirty other residents of Saint Barthélemy, the two women responded to the call to gather issued a few days earlier by Cécile Rubino Tessier, the territorial councilor in charge of social affairs. On this Saturday, July 4, the elected official wanted to join the national movement calling for a march to denounce sexual and gender-based violence. “It’s important to finally address violence against children, women—everyone,” says Sabine. Michèle agrees and adds: “People often say that nothing ever happens in Saint-Barth. At some point, you have to get involved when something does happen and not just blame it all on being so far away. Violence doesn’t just happen to other people.”
On this day, tens of thousands of people marched in Paris and in 110 processions across France. “We have the opportunity to do our part in a national movement, so it would be a shame to back out,” notes Mathilde. Standing next to her, Karine adds: “I’m concerned about this issue as a woman. The more we talk about it, the more of us there are, the better. We need to give women a voice, to recognize them as targets, as victims. We have to speak up, to say what needs to be said.”
Solidarity, presence, and speaking out “so that things change”—these words recur in the testimonies of Nathalie, Anne, and Inès. “This is an important fight for all women around the world,” Inès reminds us. “I have loved ones who have been affected by this. We must never forget this fight.”
“Wounds that never heal”
While women make up the majority of the gathering, a handful of men are also present. Like Dominique, who explains: “I’m a father; I’ve always been very sensitive to the harm done to children. I was a volunteer firefighter for a long time and witnessed these issues within some households. They’ve existed for far too long. Even if we’re all aware of the problem, the law must be enforced and attitudes must change for things to improve.” ” Mathys adds: “I’ve worked in the security field and have seen quite a few cases of domestic violence. Saint-Barthélemy is not immune to this kind of issue.”
Wearing a T-shirt calling for the enactment of comprehensive legislation to combat sexual and gender-based violence, Maeva says: “I experienced sexual violence from a very young age, at the hands of a family member, and at the age of twenty, at the hands of an ex-boyfriend. This is a cause close to my heart because I want women and children to be protected. These are wounds that cannot be healed. ” Visibly moved, she pauses and offers a faint, trembling smile, as if to apologize for letting herself be overcome by an emotion that is both legitimate and understandable.
Speaking Out to Inform and Protect
“There were far more people than I ever imagined,” says Cécile Rubino Tessier with satisfaction. “I hope that next time, we’ll be able to organize a march so that everyone on the island feels involved. Because violence can affect a son, a daughter, a nephew, or a niece, and this is a cause close to my heart.” ” To support her, the territorial councilor was able to count on the presence of a small handful of elected officials: Marie-Hélène Bernier, Bettina Cointre, and Maxime Desouches from the Action-Équilibre group, and Diana Bourel from Saint-Barth d’Abord.
Since joining the territorial council midway through the term, Cécile Rubino Tessier has made social issues her cause. Far from the cleverly crafted, artificial speeches delivered from the podium or online, the elected official has tackled important issues head-on. Such as mental health or the shortage of foster families for children at risk. “People who could provide a suitable home for children should not hesitate to come forward to social services,” the elected official insists. “Because we need foster families. We also need to focus on prevention with children. They don’t know that it’s not okay to be touched. This often happens within families, so we need to stop treating this topic as taboo. We need to talk about it. The more we talk about it, the better we’ll protect children. We also need to talk about it so that people who have been victims of sexual violence can feel free to speak out without being judged, because they are not to blame for anything.”
The marches and rallies organized on July 4 took place one month after the announcement of the death of Lyhanna, an 11-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in the Gers department.
