On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 17:00, deputies Sandrine Josso (Les Démocrates) and Élise Leboucher (La France insoumise) presented a report titled on the cost of sexual and gender-based violence and the support for victims before the delegation for women's rights in the National Assembly. The report calls for a major increase in resources to combat violence against women and children, emphasizing the financial burden that victims bear. In their text, which LCP was able to consult, the two deputies recommend significantly increasing the financial resources allocated to the fight against violence against women and children, in order to address a rapidly growing need for support. While the total cost of such violence for the French economy cannot be precisely measured, the report highlights the personal financial strain on victims throughout their recovery journey. Sandrine Josso estimates the annual cost of violence against women and children at 100 billion euros, calling it a "minimal estimate that remains approximate." She refers to the Ciivise, a research organization, which estimated the cost of violence against children alone to be "nearly 10 billion euros per year" in 2023. In May 2026, anthropologist Pascal Picq, in his book Anthropology of Violence Against Women in the 21st Century (Odile Jacob), estimated the cost of violence against women in France at between 20 and 90 billion euros. Josso and Leboucher propose conducting a "national study" to better understand the full economic impact of such violence on both society and victims. They note that the total resources allocated by the French government to this issue were 184.4 million euros in 2023, with only 12.7 million euros specifically for sexual violence. While the budget increased by 50 million euros between 2018 and 2023, the deputies argue that it is still far from sufficient, and funding has stagnated since 2024. The Foundation of Women estimates that the necessary budget should be between 2.6 and 5.4 billion euros. This figure is higher than the 1.5 billion euros announced by the government for 2027, which would be supplemented by 2.6 billion euros for child protection. Feminist groups have criticized this amount, with Élise Leboucher stating that "3 billion euros is really the floor." The deputies note that while the government has increased funding for the fight against violence against women and children in recent years, it has not kept pace with the growing demand for support. The number of women reporting domestic violence has "almost doubled between 2018 and 2023." Victims often have to cover at least part of the costs of care and legal proceedings themselves, according to the co-reporters, who highlight what they call "the submerged part of the iceberg" that represents these financial consequences. According to a survey by the Nook Care association, victims of childhood sexual violence face an average out-of-pocket cost of 21,000 euros. The Foundation of Women estimates that attorney fees for victims of sexual violence range between 4,000 and 6,000 euros on average. Josso and Leboucher propose that the government should fully cover the costs of care for victims of violence. They also note that such violence can have long-term effects on victims' personal and professional lives. Élise Leboucher points out the "hidden cost" of VSS on victims' careers, citing loss of concentration and work absences as consequences. The deputies mention the case of a victim who was fired from her job due to unstable behavior linked to trauma. They also highlight women who must move to avoid their aggressors or use taxis instead of public transport to avoid encounters. Leboucher describes meeting former executives now working in part-time jobs like cashiers or waiters, resulting in a loss of income and future pension benefits. To address these issues, Josso and Leboucher propose the creation of a right to leave or paid absence for victims, and a ban on firing victims of VSS who can demonstrate a health condition linked to their trauma. They also suggest that employers should cover the costs of legal and medical care for victims of workplace violence, with Leboucher advocating for automatic coverage and Josso proposing coverage only if the employer failed to meet its obligations. Other recommendations include creating an "expert victim" status, developing a unified care protocol for health professionals, and assessing the feasibility of standard investigative procedures for cases of violence against women and children.