Signature in Marseille of the Charter to Better Protect and Support Women Asylum Seekers

February 1st, 2024, Signature in Marseille of the Charter to Better Protect and Support Women Asylum Seekers and Victims of Violence or Human Trafficking.

A charter aimed at improving the care of women asylum seekers who are victims of violence or human trafficking was signed on February 1st, 2024 in Marseille by the Director General of the OFII, the Prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône, the City of Marseille and eight local associations.

Le maire de la ville de Marseille, représenté par Mme Audrey Garino, adjointe en charge des affaires sociales, solidarité, lutte contre la pauvreté et de l’égalité aux droits ; le préfet du département des Bouches-du-Rhône, représenté par M. Cyrille Le Vely, secrétaire général ; le directeur général de l’OFII, M. Didier Leschi
The Mayor of the City of Marseille, represented by Ms. Audrey Garino, Deputy Mayor in charge of social affairs, solidarity, the fight against poverty and equal rights; the Prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhône department, represented by Mr. Cyrille Le Vely, Secretary General; the Director General of the OFII, Mr. Didier Leschi

The charter focuses on three key areas:

  • — Raising awareness of the partners involved and improving their understanding of each other’s roles.
  • — Coordinating the actions of the various stakeholders and ensuring that the public is informed of these actions.
  • — Ensuring that the specific needs of the target population are better taken into account.

The objectives set out in this charter demonstrate a clear desire to detect, support and protect vulnerable women throughout their asylum application process, in particular by providing emergency accommodation places in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region to ensure the safety of women and combat prostitution trafficking.

This signature, involving institutional and associative partners, is a significant step towards a more collaborative approach.

The Director General recalls that out of the 300 places dedicated to women victims of human trafficking, 55 places are open in Marseille, to which the OFII services refer these people in need of protection.

The quote from Didier Leschi, Director General of the OFII, underlining the institution’s ongoing commitment, reinforces the idea that this initiative is a first step towards lasting and significant improvements in the care of vulnerable women in the context of the right to asylum.

“Our motto remains the same: always the first” — Didier LESCHI, Director General of the OFII.