The city of Bordeaux adopted a charter to protect and support female asylum applicants who are victims of violence or trafficking.
Various institutional and local stakeholders signed the charter on 29 January 2025, including the French Office for the Immigration and the Integration OFII, the regional prefecture, the public prosecutor of the appeals court, the city of Bordeaux, the University hospital centre and five civil society organisations (amongst which: France terre d’asile, Centre d’accueil et de consultation information sexualités, CEID — Pôle prostitution, Ruelle – Relais urbain d’échanges et de lutte contre l’exploitation, Groupe SOS Solidarités).
The charter covers 3 key areas of action:
- Sharing information among stakeholders involved for a more efficient detection of female trafficking victims
- Coordinating the activities of the various stakeholders, notbaly through the referral to the 300 available places at national level for victims of violence
- Improving the understanding of each stakeholders' role and shared training opportunities
The objectives set out in this charter underline the importance to detect, support and protect vulnerable women throughout their asylum application process, in particular by providing emergency accommodation places in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine to ensure the safety of women and fight trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
OFII pointed that 300 places are foreseen for women who are victims of human trafficking, with 35 places in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, where OFII services refer victims in need of protection.