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The ban on all forms of violence
This sheet helps you understand your fundamental rights. It explains the ban on all forms of violence.
Key points of the sheet
- Violence means violent acts committed against another person. In France, it is strictly forbidden: in a couple, in the family, at work and in the street.
- Psychological violence aims to put you down or to belittle you. For example: insulting a person or saying belittling words, in private or in public.
- Taking away a person's identity documents or threatening them are also forms of psychological violence.
- Physical violence is an act that aims to hurt a person. For example: a slap, a blow, or being pushed or pulled by the hair.
- Economic violence means controlling your partner's money in order to control them. For example: total control of their financial resources and how they are used.
Words to know
- violence (violences)
- It means violent acts against another person. It is strictly forbidden in France.
- psychological violence (violence psychologique)
- It is behaviour that aims to put down or belittle a person.
- physical violence (violence physique)
- It is an act whose aim is to hurt a person.
- economic violence (violence économique)
- It means controlling your partner's money in order to control them.
Test yourself: 3 questions
In France, violence within the family is:
In French, the language of the exam: En France, les violences au sein de la famille sont :
Violence in a couple, in the family, at work or in the street is strictly forbidden in France.
A slap is an example of which kind of violence?
In French, the language of the exam: Une gifle est un exemple de quelle violence ?
The sheet gives a slap as an example of physical violence, an act that aims to hurt.
What does psychological violence aim to do?
In French, the language of the exam: Que vise la violence psychologique ?
Psychological violence aims to put down or belittle a person.
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More in this topic (Obligations and duties of people living in France)
- The ban on female genital mutilation
- The ban on sexual violence
- Adopting a respectful attitude towards the environment
Source
Sheet “L'interdiction de toutes les formes de violences” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.