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The role of witnesses in cases of violence
This sheet helps you understand your fundamental rights. It also helps you know how to act in case of violence.
Key points of the sheet
- The law forbids all forms of violence. If you witness violence, you must act without putting yourself in danger.
- Your action helps the victim. The victim can be a family member, a work colleague or a stranger in the street.
- It is important to act without putting the victim or yourself in danger. Listening to the victim already helps them.
- Without forcing the victim to act, you can give them solutions. For example: an emergency phone number, an online reporting website, a contact of health or social professionals.
- A direct witness of violence must first protect themselves, then help the victim. They can call the police or look for help nearby.
- A witness can testify to the police or a judge if the victim files a complaint. They can also make an anonymous report or send a main courante.
- Emergency numbers: 15 for the SAMU, 17 for Police secours, 18 for the fire brigade. 112 is the European emergency number, 115 is for emergency housing.
- 119 is for child abuse, 196 for rescue at sea, 3919 for domestic violence. 3018 is for school bullying, 114 by text message for people with hearing loss.
Words to know
- police log report (main courante)
- It means reporting facts to the police or the gendarmerie, without filing a complaint.
- anonymous report (signalement anonyme)
- A witness can make an anonymous report so that the facts are recorded.
- direct witness (témoin direct)
- A direct witness of violence must first protect themselves, then help the victim.
- domestic violence (Violences conjugales)
- The emergency number for domestic violence is 3919.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Which number should you call for domestic violence?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel numéro appeler pour les violences conjugales ?
3919 is the number for domestic violence.
What is a main courante?
In French, the language of the exam: Qu'est-ce qu'une main courante ?
A main courante means reporting facts to the police or the gendarmerie, without filing a complaint.
As a direct witness of violence, what must you do first?
In French, the language of the exam: Témoin direct d'une violence, que devez-vous faire d'abord ?
A direct witness must first protect themselves, then help the victim.
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Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
More in this topic (Obligations and duties of people living in France)
- The obligations of a French citizen
- Obligations as a resident of France
- The ban on all forms of violence
Source
Sheet “Le rôle des témoins en cas 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.