The Fondation des femmes, a leading foundation in France for the protection of women’s rights and combatting violence against women, and Accor have announced the launch of a platform dedicated to “Emergency Shelter”. This initiative is aimed at providing accommodation and safety within Accor hotels for women and children who are victims of abuse. Financed by Accor, this platform helps ensure that emergency accommodation is provided quicker and more securely. It addresses an essential need of the Fondation des Femmes and the non-profit organizations it supports, including the Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes (French National Federation for Women’s Solidarity). 4 in 10 female victims of abuse who request accommodation sadly have to be turned away, due to emergency schemes being at full capacity.[1] In addition, such schemes are not always best suited to accommodating women and children who have suffered so much.
Via this platform, Accor is committing to providing female victims of abuse with a hotel room. The quality of the accommodation offered, even for a brief period, is a key factor in the pathway out of violence and towards rebuilding their lives. Since March 2022, 148 women and children have already benefited from this ground-breaking program, which is being rolled out throughout France. This project is also being financed by the Fondation BNP Paribas and Alternative Patrimoine.
“Emergency Shelter” extends the emergency scheme introduced by Accor during the Covid-19 pandemic, which provided access to overnight stays at a cost price. During the lockdown periods, domestic abuse and violence increased significantly and the shortage of emergency accommodation intensified*.
This initiative is in line with Accor’s commitment to help protect female victims of abuse, and the huge need for accommodation which requires widespread action.
According to Anne-Cécile Mailfert, President of the Fondation des Femmes, “Ensuring that women who leave an abusive situation are immediately offered secure and decent accommodation is key to helping them look towards a brighter long-term future. This project helps to step up our collective response against the scourge of violence against women.”
Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor, said, “For many years Accor has been committed to combatting discrimination and violence against women, and the launch of this platform is a source of great pride for us. Welcoming and taking care of others is at the very heart of what we do. Working alongside the Fondation des Femmes to roll out this scheme, offering shelter to women and children who have suffered violence, and enabling them to rebuild their lives with dignity was a natural development for us.”
Brune Poirson, Chief Sustainability Officer Accor, added, “We are pleased with the launch of the “Emergency Shelter” dedicated platform. For women and children who have suffered domestic violence, having access to accommodation is a major step in guaranteeing their safety. This platform will therefore mean our hotels can offer emergency accommodation quicker and more securely, to ensure that no one is left alone without support.”
*To handle emergency needs and situations quickly, Accor introduced CEDA – Coronavirus Emergency Desk Accor – which aimed to centralize all requirements and provide accommodation solutions throughout France to homeless people, victims of abuse and healthcare personnel in action during the pandemic. In 2021, with Accor’s support, more than 700 female victims and their children benefitted from 13,867 emergency overnight stays.
Via this platform, Accor is committing to providing female victims of abuse with a hotel room. The quality of the accommodation offered, even for a brief period, is a key factor in the pathway out of violence and towards rebuilding their lives. Since March 2022, 148 women and children have already benefited from this ground-breaking program, which is being rolled out throughout France. This project is also being financed by the Fondation BNP Paribas and Alternative Patrimoine.
“Emergency Shelter” extends the emergency scheme introduced by Accor during the Covid-19 pandemic, which provided access to overnight stays at a cost price. During the lockdown periods, domestic abuse and violence increased significantly and the shortage of emergency accommodation intensified*.
This initiative is in line with Accor’s commitment to help protect female victims of abuse, and the huge need for accommodation which requires widespread action.
According to Anne-Cécile Mailfert, President of the Fondation des Femmes, “Ensuring that women who leave an abusive situation are immediately offered secure and decent accommodation is key to helping them look towards a brighter long-term future. This project helps to step up our collective response against the scourge of violence against women.”
Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor, said, “For many years Accor has been committed to combatting discrimination and violence against women, and the launch of this platform is a source of great pride for us. Welcoming and taking care of others is at the very heart of what we do. Working alongside the Fondation des Femmes to roll out this scheme, offering shelter to women and children who have suffered violence, and enabling them to rebuild their lives with dignity was a natural development for us.”
Brune Poirson, Chief Sustainability Officer Accor, added, “We are pleased with the launch of the “Emergency Shelter” dedicated platform. For women and children who have suffered domestic violence, having access to accommodation is a major step in guaranteeing their safety. This platform will therefore mean our hotels can offer emergency accommodation quicker and more securely, to ensure that no one is left alone without support.”
*To handle emergency needs and situations quickly, Accor introduced CEDA – Coronavirus Emergency Desk Accor – which aimed to centralize all requirements and provide accommodation solutions throughout France to homeless people, victims of abuse and healthcare personnel in action during the pandemic. In 2021, with Accor’s support, more than 700 female victims and their children benefitted from 13,867 emergency overnight stays.
[1] Report - “Is there money for providing accommodation to female victims of violence?”, November 2021, Fondation des Femmes and Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes.
