Monaco has recorded its 18th coronavirus victim, a 91-year-old resident. It marks the fifth Covid fatality since the beginning of February.
The government reported the death in its daily coronavirus count on Wednesday evening. It continues a rising mortality rate in the Principality, which kicked off at the beginning of 2021. Of all 18 deaths so far, 15 have been recorded this year.
There were also an additional 29 people who tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total to 1,572 since the pandemic began.
Currently, 67 people are being taken care of at the Princess Grace Hospital Centre: 56 patients including 36 residents are hospitalised, while an additional 11 people, including seven residents,are being treated in intensive care.
There were 25 recoveries bringing that total to 1,320, while 139 Covid-positive residents with mild symptoms are being cared for by the Home Monitoring Centre.
Analysis: Covid's impact on female victims of violence figures
Interministerial Delegate for Women’s Rights Céline Cottalorda talks to Monaco Life about the latest Violence Against Women report for 2020.
It is only the second report on violence against women to come out of the Principality, yet it is crucial in steering government, police and judicial responses to fight the phenomenon.
Instigated by the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights and compiled by Monaco’s statistics body IMSEE, the report draws on information gathered from various institutional sources, associations and health establishments.
The latest report, released on Monday, has delivered some interesting figures for a year marked by Covid-19.
2020 saw lockdowns, increased tension in the home, financial strains and unprecedented psychological pressure. Not surprisingly, it was also a year that saw an increase in violence against women, with 39 cases reported to police, compared to 33 in 2019. The average age of female victims was 36 years old, while for perpetrators it was 42 years. The majority of cases reported to police involved physical violence, while 10% were crimes of a sexual nature, and half were committed within the home of either party.
According to police figures, the majority of victims (72%) resided in the Principality of Monaco (compared to 58% in 2019), while 40% of victims at the Princess Grace Hospital Centre were Monaco residents.
Overwhelmingly, it seems, females are more likely to seek help from the Victims Help Association (AVIP): 42 women were received by the association in 2020, compared to 40 in 2019, and 81% of those victims reside in Monaco. Legal action
Of the 28 resident victims who presented to police, 14 complaints and four ‘courantes’ were filed in Monaco.
Meanwhile, 50 procedures were opened for cases of violence against women, including 20 for acts committed in 2020.
To date, one conviction has been handed down and one protection order has been issued for acts committed in 2020. Eight cases were dismissed last year. Impact of Covid
In 2020, 53 women who were admitted to the CHPG said they had suffered violence during the year, half of 2019’s figure which was 113.
Physical violence was involved in 36% of cases recorded at AVIP, while 31% were cases of psychological violence. Harassment (moral or sexual) represents 19% of cases. 14% were acts of sexual violence.
Analysing the numbers with Monaco’s Interministerial Delegate for Women’s Rights Céline Cottalorda.
Monaco Life: What trends have you noted in the statistics from 2020?
Céline Cottalorda: The general trend shows a relative stability of the figures. There is also an impact of the health crisis. Indeed, the violence concerned more residents, which can be explained by the fact that some left to confine themselves outside Monaco and others did not come to the Principality. Overall, the age of the victims has also increased. Were you expecting the number of victims to be higher given the lockdown and anxiety surrounding the Covid pandemic?
The number of cases is still up by 18% in terms of public safety. There is also an increase in the judicial handling of cases with 50 procedures opened in 2020. This is one of the outcomes of the victims’ freedom to speak. For its part, AVIP received the same number of women as in 2019, but with more cases of harassment at work. There were more than 50% less women admitted to the CHPG suffering from domestic violence in 2020. Why do you think this was? Do you think it was related to the pandemic?
Indeed, this figure is linked to the pandemic and containment. Many events were canceled last year which resulted in fewer trips to the Principality and therefore less admissions to the CHPG. It appears that female victims of violence in Monaco are more likely to go to a victims’ association than the police or hospital. Why do you think that is?
There are several gateways in Monaco to accommodate people who are victims of violence. It is true that going to an association like AVIP can be easier and perceived as more anonymous than the police or a social service, especially in Monaco where everyone knows each other. I don’t think there is a general fear of going to the hospital, except maybe in a pandemic, especially since in the hospital one can be relatively anonymous. People assume that violence against women is often physical or sexual, but 31% of cases at the AVIP involve psychological violence. Is this type of violence harder for victims to identify and seek help for?
Physical violence leaves traces, while psychological violence is more difficult to identify because it cannot be seen. In addition, the victims are often ashamed and do not dare to talk about it. However, we realise that there are several types of violence that are intertwined (physical, economic, moral). Physical violence is very often preceded or accompanied by psychological violence. Only one conviction was handed down in 2020 as well as one protection order for acts committed that year. Meanwhile, eight cases were dismissed. What is your opinion on that?And what efforts have been made to make the courts fairer for victims of violence?
It is true that there are still very few convictions, often for lack of evidence. To improve this, it is essential to file a complaint or have injuries observed if you have suffered physical violence. This is an essential first step in putting together a case that will allow the justice system to do its job and sanction the perpetrator. It is not a problem of tools but of providing proof. This statistical analysis was instigated by the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights. What do you hope will come out of these annual reports?
From its creation, the committee wanted to have objective figures on violence in order to know the situation in Monaco and better fight against this scourge. This work is carried out in collaboration with IMSEE which brings its scientific know-how. In the longer term, this study will provide a complete series over several years to analyse the possible evolution of this phenomenon and put in place targeted actions.
The Nice to Paris night train, defunct since 2017, is being relaunched in 2021 to the excitement of travellers looking for an alternative to long drives and carbon-fuelled airline travel.
French Minister of Transport Jean-BaptisteDjebbari has announced that the Paris-Nice night train will be amongst the first lines to reopen after the cessation of night trains in France over two years ago.
The minister said that the Paris-Tarbes (south-west France) route will also be reopened this year and that he hoped to see a total of 15 night train lines in effect by 2030.
Secretary of state transport at the time of the stoppage, Alain Vidalies, took the decision because of exorbitant operating costs, saying in February 2016: “Night trains represent 25% of the trains deficit in the territory while they transport only 3% of travellers.”
Since then, there has been a general mobilisation of the national collective ‘Yes to Night Trains’, and the association ‘Friends of the Riviera Railways’, who called for the night train system to be reinstated, gathering 25,000 signatures for their cause.
Speaking to Le Parisien on Sunday, Transport Minister Djebbari said, “In France, the development of the TGV has eaten up the night trains and the supply has deteriorated. This must be changed.”
These lines will revolve around the planned European links, the two remaining lines in France and the two others announced in the recovery plan last September. This plan offered €100 million in funding for renovations of 50 carriages by 2022.
“If the Paris-Nice night train is able to restart, it is thanks to the recovery plan. It allows 44 sleeper cars to be put back into service,” Djebbari said.
The return of French night trains is part of a wider European Union plan, which aims to prioritise this particular service for travellers. Night trains are an environmentally friendly alternative to flying and one the European public are keen to use.
In December 2020, four European national railway companies promised new sleepers linking 13 major cities in the largest extension of Europen’s night train network in many years. The €500 million investment was announced by the state railways of Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland.
After the beating taken from Club Joventut Badalone last week, AS Monaco Basketball came back with a vengeance on Tuesday night, dominating their opponent with a 97-82 win at home at Salle Gaston Médecin.
When the Roca team faced off on 30th January against Spanish powerhouse team Badalone, their biggest competition in their group in the Euro Cup 7 standings, they were soundly defeated, pushing Monaco out of their Top 16 top spot.
On Tuesday night, they dramatically recaptured their number one standing, demolishing Badalone with a 97 to 82 win.
But it was hardly a foregone conclusion as the Joventut team started out strong, scoring 10 points to Monaco’s zero. This is when the Roca Boys kicked into gear and within minutes the score was evened up, 14 to 14, thanks to efforts made by JJ O’Brien, Marcos Knight and Rob Gray.
Suddenly, the court was all red and white, with the Roca Team pulling ahead, but not before a serious drive by the Spaniards finished the quarter with them taking a one point lead.
The back and forth went on until half time and saw the same one-point lead, only this time for Monaco, going into the break.
The third quarter saw Monaco step up their game, finishing with a strong 10-point lead. This lit a fire under Badalone who, in the final quarter, recovered some ground, almost evening up the score at one point.
Coach Zvezdan Mitrovic wisely called time out at this point, and the rest, as they say, is history. The Roca Team finished the match with a 15-point lead and a final score of 97 to 82.
“It was a really good game from us, a great result and above all I want to congratulate my players and everyone,” Coach Zvezdan said after the game. “There were a lot of points scored in this game and it was not bad defence. This experience will serve our young players in the future.”
Team Captain dee Bost added, “I was not well in the first leg, I was feeling a bit ashamed of the two points scored. I was obsessed with the idea of catching up tonight. But we did the team work and I think the guys gave it their all. We are first and we want to remain so.”
Monaco next play a Jeep Elite match on 6th February away against Cholet. The game starts at 6:30pm.
(Monaco Life with AS Monaco Basketball press release, photo by AS Monaco basketball)
Catherine Fautrier-Rousseau is officially the new Ambassador to Spain after presenting her Letters of Credence to the country’s king at the Royal Palace in Madrid.
Catherine Fautrier-Rousseau took on the role in October in 2020, but the deal was sealed on 29th January when she met with Spanish King Felipe VI to give him her Letters of Credence and officially take up her post.
The ceremony took place at the Royal Palace and was followed by a private interview between the King, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Arancha Gonzales Laya and Ms Fautrier-Rousseau.
Amongst the various issues discussed, the topic of the health crisis was most prevalent, with both sides speaking of the consequences linked to it.
Protection of the environment was also a top issue in terms of the challenges for future generations as well as what points of collaboration could be carried out between Monaco and Spain.
King Felipe VI, who is interested in the impact of pollution on ecosystems and on urban populations, asked specific questions relating to the Principality’s energy transition programme, noting the Ambassador’s expertise would be welcome on the matter.
Common ground was also found in relation to protection of the Mediterranean. This opened up the chance for the Ambassador to discuss the commemorations in 2022 of the 100 year anniversary of the death of Prince Albert I and the friendships he maintained with the Crown of Spain throughout his reign. Several events will therefore be organised on Spanish soil.
Finally, both sides agreed they would be happy to continue to strengthen ties between the two nations.
Organising a vehicle inspection, or Control Technique, just became a lot easier in Monaco with the launch of an online booking service as part of the Extended Monaco program.
The initiative falls in line with the government’s aim of introducing new online procedures to simplify the daily lives of Monegasques, residents and professionals.
Four months before the expiry date of a Control Technique, the vehicle owner will receive a letter in which three alternatives are offered: Return a detachable payment slip by mail with a cheque; Go to the Vehicle Technical Control Centre to make an appointment and pay directly; Or connect to https://teleservice.gouv.mc/controle-technique. This last option offers several new services including the ability to select a time and date for an appointment according to availability, make payments online, and an email or SMS reminder about the appointment.
“11,000 technical inspections are carried out on average each year at the Vehicle Technical Control Centre,”revealed Aurélie Peri, Head of the Traffic Permits Department. “The launch of this new tool allows us to offer a more personalised service to owners of vehicles registered in the Principality who will have visibility over all the available options and, without having to travel, will be able to choose the one that suits them best and modify it in a few clicks if necessary.”
Photo source: Pixabay
All the headlines and highlights from Monaco, direct to you every morning
