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– François-Henri Pinault, Chairman of the Kering Foundation.

The Kering Foundation releases its new Activity Report and honors women who fight to escape from violence, the organizations that support them, and the Kering employees. Articulated through a simple presentation and concise texts, the document includes a photo-essay by Marion Berrin. The report highlights the Foundation’s approach, which focuses on partnership and dialogue. Whether it is to support survivors-centered organizations that provide comprehensive services to women, to mentor social entrepreneurs with alternative solutions or to break the silence, the Kering Foundation seeks to create deep and long-lasting social impact and to change behaviors, in order to put an end to violence against women.

Find out more about the projects led by the Kering Foundation partners, as well as its awareness campaigns, by downloading the Activity Report.

In 2016, one hundred and twenty-three women were killed by their partners in France according to a report published by France’s Home Office (the equivalent of the FBI and Homeland Security departments in the US) on September 1st, 2017.

The study focuses on intimate partner deaths in France and shows that women remain the principle victims of domestic violence. Thirty-four men were also identified. In total, one hundred and fifty-seven people lost their lives in 2016, an increase of 9% compared to 2015, when there were one hundred and forty-four victims.
An international report from the UN published in 2015 supports this observation. According to the report, two thirds of all domestic violence deaths are women.

An article published by the French journal Liberation gives details about these victims, who come from every social class, depicting their candid moments and their stories. The paper points out the main cause for men to commit these femicides: the refusal to break up. Ernestine Ronai, Psychologist and Head of the Women’s Violence Observatory in Seine-Saint-Denis explains, “You do not murder your wife out of love. You murder her because you cannot stand the fact of losing her. You want to keep your property.”

Another crucial aspect is highlighted in the report: children are at the center of domestic violence. Often times traumatized because they are the first witnesses to this violence, they are also collateral victims. In total, twenty-five children lost their lives in 2016. Amongst them, nine children died with their mothers.

The Hubertine Aucler Center, a regional resource center dedicated to the promotion of gender equality in France, published a report called “Better protection and guidance for children, co-victims of domestic violence” on September 7th. It recommends reinforcing financial resources and support to “women survivors and their children” in order to encourage them to speak out and prevent violence.

This study is based on the first national plan to counter violence against children and the fifth national plan to mobilize and combat violence against women, both launched in 2017 by the French government.

For more information about French organizations that support victims of domestic abuse, visit the National Federation of Solidarity for Women’s (FNSF) website, a network of organizations that provide guidance and shelter for women victims of abuse, or contact the 3919 in France (Anonymous and free of charge).

[Sources : RTL, Libération, Le Parisien, Le Figaro]
 

The Kering Foundation and MakeSense support social entrepreneurs.

The Kering Foundation Awards support the innovative ideas of social entrepreneurs committed to tackling violence against women. In partnership with MakeSense, the Kering Foundation Awards enable selected social entrepreneurs to scale up their impactful social business models via financial support, a 6-month acceleration programme and professional mentoring.

Launched in 2011, MakeSense accelerates the impact of social entrepreneurs by connecting them with individuals ready to take up their challenges. To enable anyone to help, MakeSense constantly creates problem-solving workshop methodologies and train every passionate volunteer.

The Kering Foundation Awards, in partnership with MakeSense, cover five countries*: France, Italy, Mexico, UK and US. Depending on the eligibility and quality of the applications, a maximum of five winners will be selected - one per country. The two most convincing projects will receive a grant of €10,000, whilst the three others receiving €5,000. In addition, winners will benefit from a 6-month acceleration programme through the MakeSense incubators network. Winners will also receive 2 years mentoring support from Kering Group employees.

Any social enterprise that benefit to women affected by or at risk of violence against women (i.e. domestic violence, sexual violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, trafficking, etc.), is eligible to apply. Women at risk includes migrant women, minority women, etc. Entrepreneurs must be located and operating in one of the following countries: France, Italy, Mexico, UK or the US.

All legal entities are welcomed as far as they meet the below criteria:

• Creating social impact/value by:
     - Preventing or responding to violence against women through service provision
     - Empowering/protecting women affected by or at risk of violence
• Applying sustainable economic/business model
• Reinvesting profit to achieve social purposes
• Involving entrepreneurs and co-founders on a full-time basis
• Projects that include men in combatting violence against women will also be examined

All applications must be submitted online, by midnight (GMT+1) on September 30, 2017. You are free to answer in English, French, Spanish or Italian. Applicants will be contacted by the end of October 2017, with more information on the selection process. The winners of the Kering Foundation Awards will be announced at the beginning of 2018. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact: mathilde@makesense.org

* The Kering Foundation Awards will soon be launched in China and Hong Kong, terms and conditions to be communicated later.