La Maison des femmes de Saint-Denis

A one-stop shop for women experiencing violence

• In France, a woman dies every three days at the hands of her partner.
• Estimates suggest that between 125,000 and 139,000 women who have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) live in France. (French National Observatory on Violence Against Women)
• In 2024, 277,000 women were the victims of rape, attempted rape, and/or sexual assault in France. (French National Observatory on Violence Against Women)

La Maison des femmes de Saint-Denis: A visionary project

In 2014, Ghada Hatem-Gantzer, an obstetrician-gynecologist, had the idea to create a center which would offer support for women experiencing violence, affiliated with the Delafontaine Hospital in Saint-Denis (France). Its goal: to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care—medical treatment, psychological support, and legal and social assistance—in a safe and caring environment.

The Kering Foundation was the first private donor to back the project, providing funding for the construction of the facility and helping to attract other donors.

In July 2016, La Maison des femmes de Saint-Denis opened its doors and has since become a safe haven for thousands of women. It welcomes, cares for, and supports women affected by violence. They are assisted by 60 professionals (doctors, midwives, psychologists, social workers, police officers, lawyers, etc.) across four care units:

• Domestic violence,
• Sexual abuse and rapes,
• Family planning,
• Female genital mutilations.

The center's work also extends to prevention, education, and public health. By bringing together healthcare professionals, law enforcement officers, legal experts, therapists, artists, and athletes, La Maison des femmes de Saint-Denis provides a space where patients are fully supported on their paths to healing and independence.

Every day, between 50 and 80 women walk through its doors seeking help in rebuilding, both physically and psychologically.

In 2024, at La Maison des femmes de Saint-Denis:

RESTART: implementing the Maison des femmes model throughout France

The Maison des femmes model, recognized for its effectiveness, led to the creation of a Mission d'Intérêt Général (Public Interest Mission) in 2020, allowing for public-private funding of other women's shelters throughout France.

In March 2021, the #Restart collective was launched to bring together organizations that care for and support women survivors and women in difficulty. The name reflects the collective's aim of establishing new outreach, advocacy, and awareness-raising initiatives. By engaging with a wide range of audiences, including healthcare professionals, institutional staff, law enforcement agencies, businesses, and nonprofit organizations, the collective disseminates knowledge gained through its work in the field and aims to shift perceptions regarding violence against women.

The expertise shared and the training provided by Maisons des femmes #Restart have attracted interest beyond France, allowing the organization to pass on its field experience to several countries, including Switzerland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Senegal, and Mexico.

A growth made possible by the Kering Foundation

Thanks to its ongoing support, the Kering Foundation has made it possible to:

• Expand La Maison des femmes in 2021, doubling its capacity.
• Implement new initiatives, such as a consultation focused on victims of incest in 2019.
• Develop the “Mon Palier ” project since 2021, an emergency shelter for young women supported by La Maison des femmes.

In 2021, at the Generation Equality Forum, a global gathering in support of gender equality organized by UN Women, François-Henri Pinault, Chairman of the Kering Foundation, pledged €5 million in funding for the creation and launch of 15 structures based on the Maison des femmes de Saint-Denis model, with the French Government.

In line with this commitment, the Kering Foundation has already provided support for the opening and development of:

• La Maison des femmes Gisèle-Halimi de Rennes
• La Maison des femmes de Tours
• La Maison de Freyja de Poitiers
• La Maison des femmes du Havre
• La Maison des femmes Agnès Mc Laren de Montpellier

In 2025, three new facilities were inaugurated in Marseille, Clamart, and Toulouse, bringing the total number of Maisons des femmes that have been created thanks to this commitment to eight:

• La Maison des femmes Marseille Provence
• La Maison des femmes de l'hôpital Antoine Beclère à Clamart
• La Maison des femmes Toulouse Occitanie Ouest

In 2024:

Raising awareness and championing an exemplary model: A Place for Her

La Maison des femmes de Saint-Denis was the focus of a film “A Place for Her” directed by Mélisa Godet and supported by the Kering Foundation. This feature film highlights the remarkable work of the care and support teams, and raises public awareness of violence against women and how lives can be rebuilt thanks to initiatives such as La Maison des femmes. Theatrical release in France: March 4, 2026.

Photo credit: Serge Cannasse