UAE BACKS OPENING OF NEW SHELTER BY FRENCH CHARITY LEA SOLIDARITE FEMMES FIGHTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN FRANCE

French charity Léa Solidarité Femmes yesterday inaugurated the first shelter of its network, ‘Maison Solidarité Femmes 91’, with the support of the UAE embassy in France and the Île-de-France Region. The inauguration event was attended by Her Excellency Hend Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to France; Sylvie Carillon, Mayor of Montgeron; François Durovray, President of the Departmental Council of Essonne; and French officials and representatives of the different public-private entities involved in the project. 

The shelter will offer 360° reception and support to women and children subjected to domestic violence, in order to provide them with all the support they need to extricate themselves from these vulnerable situations and rebuild their lives in a protected environment. All women and children within the Léa Solidarité Femmes network receive the same support, regardless of their nationality, culture or religion. 

The charity Léa Solidarité Femmes is specialised in the welcoming, support and accommodation of women and children who are victims of domestic violence. In 10 years since its inception, Léa Solidarité Femmes has assisted more than 2,900 women and children, including 721 women and 904 children in 2021. 

Her Excellency Hend Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to France, commented: "Empowering women in various fields is one of the UAE’s priorities and the focus of its leadership. The UAE plays a leading role, not only nationally, but also internationally in empowering women. In this regard, I am proud of the UAE Embassy in France’s support to Léa Solidarité Femmes to protect women and children living in vulnerable conditions.”

Patricia Rouff, Founder and Director of Léa Solidarité Femmes, commented: “The missions of the Maison Solidarité Femmes 91, the first house of the Solidarité Femmes network in France, respond to a large number of needs identified over the last 10 years by the experts of Léa Solidarité Femmes. I wish to express my gratitude to all our partners and funders. It is thanks to the unfailing support of benefactors such as the UAE Embassy in Paris and Ile-de-France Region that Léa Solidarité Femmes can continue to take in and support women and their children who are victims of domestic violence.”