The seven National Orders of Health Professions, meeting on July 2, made common commitments to fight against sexist and sexual violence. This step reflects their commitment, alongside the State, to strengthen prevention, improve the processing of reports, support victims, develop a common culture of vigilance and guarantee appropriate disciplinary responses when facts are established. Communiqué.
This signature is a continuation of the government plan to combat gender-based and sexual violence in health presented on January 17, 2025. It marks a new stage in the mobilization undertaken by the Government to prevent violence, better protect victims, strengthen reporting procedures and guarantee a more effective response to perpetrators. It also reflects a strong conviction: there cannot be a fully protective health system without the mobilization of all stakeholders against gender-based and sexual violence.
Health professionals occupy an essential place in this mobilization. They are often the first to hear from victims, they play a decisive role in identifying violence, protecting the people concerned, directing them to the appropriate measures and making the necessary reports. They may also be victims of gender-based and sexual violence themselves in the exercise of their profession. The fight against this violence is therefore a major issue for the protection of patients and caregivers.
“A commitment from professional orders which is a “major issue” for the protection of patients and caregivers. »
The Health Professions Orders have, in this regard, a major responsibility. Guarantors of professional deontology and ethics, they contribute to the trust that the French place in our health system. The charter signed on July 2, 2026 reflects their commitment, alongside the State, to strengthen prevention, improve the processing of reports, support victims, develop a common culture of vigilance and guarantee appropriate disciplinary responses when facts are established.
Concluded with the National Orders of dental surgeons, nurses, masseurs-physiotherapists, doctors, chiropodists-podiatrists, pharmacists and midwives, this charter provides in particular for the systematic integration of the fight against gender-based and sexual violence into the action priorities of each Order, the designation of dedicated national referents, the strengthening of training and awareness of professionals, better dissemination of recommendations relating to the identification and support of victims as well as increased sharing of anonymized data in order to improve knowledge of violence and constantly adapt public policies.
Particular attention will be paid to the most vulnerable peoplenotably the minorsTHE elderly peopleTHE people with disabilities or even the pregnant women. The actions undertaken will also make it possible to strengthen understanding of the mechanisms of influence, coercive control and the consequences of psycho-trauma, in order to improve the early identification of dangerous situations and the quality of the support offered to victims.
The State will fully support this mobilization by providing the Orders with training modules, practical guides and tools developed by the General Directorate for Healthcare Provision and the Interministerial Mission for the Protection of Women against Violence and the Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings (MIPROF). Anonymized data from reports and disciplinary procedures will also enrich the work of the National Observatory of Violence Against Women and the National Observatory of Violence in Health in order to further strengthen the effectiveness of public action.
This charter constitutes an unprecedented collective commitment between the State and the Health Professions Orders. Beyond the measures it contains, it carries an ambition for lasting transformation: making the fight against sexist and sexual violence a reflex shared by all health professions and a permanent requirement of our healthcare system.
Stéphanie Rist, Minister of Health, Families, Autonomy and People with Disabilities :
« The health system must be synonymous with trust and protection. Health professionals are on the front line to identify and report violence, speak out and support victims. With this charter, the State and the Orders are making concrete commitments to strengthen prevention, improve reporting, strengthen training and guarantee a response to gender-based and sexual violence that meets society’s expectations. It is a collective commitment to protect both patients and caregivers. »
Aurore Bergé, Minister responsible for Equality between women and men and the Fight against discrimination :
« Gender-based and sexual violence is never inevitable. They must be spotted, reported and sanctioned wherever they occur. With all the Health Professions Orders, we are committed to: appointed national referents, reinforced training to better identify, report and protect. We assert a clear line: no victim should be left alone, no violence should be minimized and no situation should be left unaddressed. »
• Press release “Gender-based and sexual violence in health: the State and the Health Professions Orders are strengthening their common commitment” sante.gouv.fr, egalite-femmes-femmes.gouv.fr, July 2, 2026.
• Charter of commitment for strengthening the fight against gender-based and sexual violence (PDF)
