CARE France warns: Heatwaves can exacerbate violence against women

Paris – 12 July 2026: When heat builds up in homes and nights bring no sleep, some women face a danger that is rarely mentioned in weather warnings. CARE France has therefore launched a new awareness campaign. It draws attention to the link between extreme temperatures, social stress and violence against women.

The organization cites scientific research finding a statistical link between periods of heat and an increased risk of intimate partner violence. Heat is not a cause that explains or excuses violence. However, it can intensify stresses such as sleep deprivation, financial worries, cramped living conditions and isolation – in relationships where violence is already present.

CARE France also points to findings on gender-based violence in public spaces. The campaign is intended to show that climate adaptation must not consist solely of drinking water stations, cooling spaces and medical preparedness. In the organization’s view, protection from violence, safe accommodation and easily accessible counseling must be included in municipal heat plans.

Research also urges caution against simplistic explanations. Studies show associations, but they do not describe an inevitable development in every household or assign individual blame. Power dynamics, control and existing patterns of violence remain decisive. This is precisely why CARE France calls for prevention and victim protection not to be activated only once a heatwave is already wearing people down.

For those affected, what matters in an emergency is not the meteorological situation but rapid, protected access to help. In France, in cases of immediate danger, the police and gendarmerie can be reached by calling 17, or 112 from a mobile phone via the European emergency number. The number 114 is available for deaf or hard-of-hearing people. The state online reporting portal also enables confidential contact with trained responders around the clock.

The 3919 hotline provides anonymous, free, nationwide advice and referrals to local support services for women, relatives and professionals. It is not an emergency number. Anyone supporting a person at risk should take their statements seriously, avoid risky confrontation with a suspected perpetrator, and work with them to choose a safe time to contact counseling services, the police or medical assistance.

CARE France’s campaign thus brings a sober focus to a summer in which much attention is centered on record temperatures. Behind closed doors, heat can exacerbate existing hardship. The protection of women must not be treated as a peripheral issue in planning for extreme weather, but must be considered from the outset.