The University of Caen Normandie and the association La voix de Sarah are organizing an evening to raise awareness of sexist and sexual violence in sport, in the presence of Sarah Abitbol, on Wednesday November 8, at the Pierre Daure amphitheatre (Caen – campus 1).
Sarah Abitbol, a former top-level figure skater, had the courage to break the silence by revealing the sexual violence she suffered as a child at the hands of her coach. The liberation of her word, symbolized by her book Un si long silence and the documentary broadcast on France 2, shook the world of sport right at the heart of the #MeToo movement. In 2022, she founded the association La voix de Sarah, giving a voice to those who have long remained silent.
Saying stop to sexist and sexual violence: the university makes a commitment
The University of Caen Normandie, after having set up a hotline to protect its community, is reaffirming its full commitment to the fight against sexist and sexual violence, and is taking up the issue that affects the sporting world. On October 16, 2023, Roxana Maracineanu, former Minister of Sports and General Secretary of the Interministerial Mission for the Protection of Women against Violence and the Fight against Human Trafficking (MIPROF), hosted a prevention day at the UFR STAPS to raise awareness among students, the future professionals of the sporting world. Sarah Abitbol will be present on Campus 1 on Wednesday November 8, in line with this event, and with the aim of reinforcing our commitment to the prevention of SGBV.
A committed evening: sport is changing, and voices are being raised
The evening will kick off with a screening of the documentary Un si long silence at 8pm, followed by a round-table discussion with Sarah Abitbol and Katia Palla, director of the association La voix de Sarah and former top figure skater.
Other guests at the round table will include: Hélène Kozaczyk, lawyer and member of the SVS14 association; Éric Bui, professor of psychiatry and director of the regional psychotrauma center; Julie Thibault-Landemore, doctor with the student health service and member of the university’s counselling unit; and Arnaud Gallais, co-founder of the Mouv Enfants movement and member of the independent commission on incest and sexual violence against children (CIIVISE). The evening will also feature the participation of 150 top sportsmen and women from the University of Caen Normandie, for whom this subject is of particular importance.
Art & resilience: the “Cri d’alerte” exhibition
The “Cri d’alerte” photo exhibition, created by the association La voix de Sarah, aims to break down persistent taboos. The photographs were taken in various sports centers to represent a variety of disciplines and the diverse experiences of victims. Through a selection of 20 shots, photographer Tom Bartowicz conveys both the psychological and physical experiences of these individuals. Each image evokes a unique emotion and tells a story.
The exhibition will be on display at Caen campus 2 – bât. Sciences 2, from October 25 to November 7. It will also be available as a prelude to the evening of November 8 on campus 1. The exhibition can be viewed in augmented reality on all Caen campuses and remote sites of the Université de Caen Normandie (Alençon, Cherbourg, Lisieux, Saint-Lô, Vire) thanks to an application and dedicated QRcodes.
