Yves Coppieters, the French community Minister for Women’s Rights, has announced increased financial support for organisations aiding victims of domestic violence on International Women’s Day.
This enhanced support will particularly benefit the specialised Domestic and Family Violence Resource Hub, which manages the Domestic Violence Helpline, and the DIViCo intervention programme, which will be expanded across the entire Walloon region.
Already active in the provinces of Liège, Namur, and Walloon Brabant, the DIViCo programme responds when the risk of femicide, infanticide, or suicide is high and will soon be extended to the provinces of Luxembourg and Hainaut.
In addition to this support, Minister Coppieters plans to introduce a “New Start Pack” to help victims rebuild their lives and to work on holding perpetrators accountable through dedicated care measures.
Moreover, the current Domestic Violence Helpline (0800 30 030) is set to be replaced by a three-digit number, ensuring simpler and more immediate access to available assistance.
Last year, 13,067 calls were handled by the current helpline, averaging 36 calls per day, according to a statement from Minister Coppieters.
